Systems and methods for battery charging and management

ABSTRACT

A charging device can include an input interface for receiving electrical power from a power source and an output interface for outputting electrical power to a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include a supplemental battery. A bypass electrical pathway can couple the input interface to the output interface to pass electrical charge from the power supply through the charging device to the mobile electronic device. A charging electrical pathway can couple the input interface to the supplemental battery. A discharge electrical pathway can couple the supplemental battery to the output interface. The bypass electrical pathway can include a voltage modifier configured to modify the voltage output by the output interface. The charging device can be configured to empirically determine the power capacity of the power supply. The charging device can monitor temperatures and/or battery health information, which can be used to reduce current or disable the charging device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/045,461, filed Sep. 3, 2014, andtitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BATTERY CHARGING AND MANAGEMENT, and ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/077,134, filed Nov. 7, 2014,and titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BATTERY CHARGING AND MANAGEMENT. Eachof the applications listed above is incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Disclosure

Some embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to systems andmethods for charging batteries of mobile electronic devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

There currently exist a number of charging devices for charging mobileelectronic devices. Nevertheless, there remains a need for improvedcharging devices.

SUMMARY OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The summary of certain example embodiments provided below are disclosedby way of example, and are not intended to be limiting.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to the mobile electronic device,and a controller. The charging device can include a charging electricalpathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery, can thecontroller can be configured to direct electricity from the inputinterface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplementalbattery to charge the supplemental battery. The charging device caninclude a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery tothe output interface, and the controller can be configured to directelectricity from the supplemental battery, along the dischargeelectrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobileelectronic device. The charging device can include a bypass electricalpathway from the input interface to the output interface, and thecontroller can be configured to direct electricity from the inputinterface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interfaceto charge the mobile electronic device. The charging device can includea first voltage modifier on the charging electrical pathway between theinput interface and the supplemental battery. The first voltage modifiercan be configured to reduce voltage that is supplied to the supplementalbattery from the input interface. The charging device can include asecond voltage modifier on both the discharge electrical pathway and thebypass electrical pathway. The second voltage modifier can be configuredto increase voltage supplied from the supplemental battery to the outputinterface along the discharge electrical pathway and to increase voltagesupplied from the input interface to the output interface along thebypass electrical pathway.

The first voltage modifier can include a buck converter. The secondvoltage modifier can include a boost converter. The controller can beconfigured to actuate one or more switches to selectively directelectricity along one or more of the charging electrical pathway, thedischarge electrical pathway, and the bypass electrical pathway.

The charging device can be configured to transfer data between themobile electronic device and an external device through the outputinterface and the input interface.

The charging device can include a protective case configured to at leastpartially enclose the mobile electronic device. The protective case caninclude a back portion configured to be positioned along at least aportion of a back side of the mobile electronic device, a right sideportion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a rightside of the mobile electronic device, a left side portion configured tobe positioned along at least a portion of a left side of the mobileelectronic device, a top portion configured to be positioned along atleast a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device, a bottomportion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottomof the mobile electronic device, and/or a front opening configured suchthat a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through thefront opening.

The charging device can include a computer-readable memory element thatincludes power capacity information for the external power supply. Thecontroller can be configured to determine a first current for the bypasselectrical pathway and a second current for the charging electricalpathway based at least in part on the power capacity information. Thecontroller can be configured to direct supplemental electrical currentfrom the supplemental battery along the discharge electrical pathwaywhen the electrical current provided from the external power supplyalong the bypass electrical pathway is below a charging current value ofthe mobile electronic device.

The controller can include a hardware processor and computer-executableinstructions stored on a memory element.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include aprotective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobileelectronic device. The protective case can include a lower case portioncomprising a back portion configured to be positioned along at least aportion of a back side of the mobile electronic device, a bottom portionconfigured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottom of themobile electronic device, a right side portion configured to bepositioned along at least a portion of a right side of the mobileelectronic device, a left side portion configured to be positioned alongat least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device, anopen top side to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic deviceinto the lower case portion, a supplemental battery disposed in the backportion of the lower case portion, an input interface on an exterior ofthe lower case portion, the input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, and an output interfaceon an interior of the lower case portion, the output interfaceconfigured to engage an electrical port on the mobile electronic deviceto output electrical power to the mobile electronic device. Theprotective case can include an upper case portion that has a top portionconfigured to be positioned along at least a portion of a top of themobile electronic device. The upper case portion can be configured toremovably couple to the lower case portion to hold the mobile electronicdevice in the protective case. A front opening of the protective casecan be configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device isvisible through the front opening when the upper case portion is coupledto the lower case portion. The charging device can include one or morevoltage modifiers that can be configured to modify voltage supplied fromthe input interface to the supplemental battery for charging thesupplemental battery, modify voltage supplied from the supplementalbattery to the output interface for charging the mobile electronicdevice, and modify voltage supplied from the input interface to theoutput interface without going through the supplemental battery forcharging the mobile electronic device.

The at least one voltage modifier can include a buck converterconfigured to reduce the voltage supplied from the input interface tothe supplemental battery for charging the supplemental battery. The atleast one voltage modifier can include a boost converter configured toincrease the voltage supplied from the supplemental battery to theoutput interface for charging the mobile electronic device and toincrease the voltage supplied from the input interface to the outputinterface without going through the supplemental battery for chargingthe mobile electronic device.

The charging device can include a controller that can be configured toactuate one or more switches to selectively direct electricity along oneor more of a charging electrical pathway from the input interface to thesupplemental battery, a discharge electrical pathway from thesupplemental battery to the output interface, and a bypass electricalpathway from the input interface to the output interface.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging devicethat includes a supplemental battery, an input interface configured toreceive electrical power for charging the supplemental battery, anoutput interface configured to output electrical power for charging amobile electronic device, a bypass electrical pathway from the inputinterface and the output interface without going through thesupplemental battery, and a voltage modifier on the bypass electricalpathway configured to modify the voltage supplied from the inputinterface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interface.

The charging device can include a discharge electrical pathway from thesupplemental battery to the output interface, and the dischargeelectrical pathway can go through the voltage modifier such that thevoltage modifier is configured to modify voltage supplied from thesupplemental battery to the output interface.

The voltage modifier can be configured to boost the voltage. The voltagemodifier can be a boost converter.

The charging device can include a protective case configured to at leastpartially enclose the mobile electronic device. The protective case caninclude a back portion configured to be positioned along at least aportion of a back side of the mobile electronic device, a right sideportion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a rightside of the mobile electronic device, a left side portion configured tobe positioned along at least a portion of a left side of the mobileelectronic device, a top portion configured to be positioned along atleast a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device, a bottomportion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottomof the mobile electronic device, and/or a front opening configured suchthat a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through thefront opening.

The output interface can include an electrical connector extendingupward from the bottom portion, and the electrical connector can beconfigured to engage an electrical port on the mobile electronic device.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a method fordetermining power output capacity of a power supply. The method caninclude charging a battery with a first amount of current from a powersupply, measuring a first voltage provided by the power supply whencharging the battery with the first amount of current, determining thatthe first voltage is above a threshold voltage value, charging thebattery with a second amount of current from the power supply, whereinthe second amount of current is higher than the first amount of current,measuring a second voltage provided by the power supply when chargingthe battery with the second amount of current, determining that thesecond voltage is above the threshold voltage value, attempting tocharge the battery with a third amount of current from the power supply,wherein the third amount of current is higher than the second amount ofcurrent, measuring a third voltage provided by the power supply whenattempting to charge the battery with the third amount of current,determining that the third voltage is below the threshold voltage value,and determining the power output capacity of the power supply based atleast in part on the value of the second amount of current.

The method can include charging the battery with one or more additionalcurrent amounts that are between the first amount of current and thesecond amount of current, measuring one or more additional voltagesprovided by the power supply when charging the battery at the one ormore additional current amounts, and determining that the one or moreadditional voltages are above the threshold voltage value.

Determining the power output capacity of the power supply can be basedat least in part on the second amount of current multiplied by thethreshold voltage value. Determining the power output capacity of thepower supply can include calculating a percentage of the second amountof current multiplied by the threshold voltage value. The determinedpower output capacity can be lower than the threshold voltage valuemultiplied by the third amount of current, and/or the determined poweroutput capacity can be greater than or equal to the threshold voltagevalue multiplied by the second amount of current.

The method can include determining a first amount of electrical power tosend to the battery for charging the battery and determining a secondamount of electrical power to send to an output interface for charging amobile electronic device based at least in part on the determined poweroutput capacity of the power supply.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device fordetermining a power output capacity of a power supply and for charging amobile electronic device. The charging device can include a supplementalbattery, an input interface configured to receive electrical power froman external power supply, an output interface configured to outputelectrical power to a mobile electronic device, and a controller. Thecharging device can include a charging electrical pathway from the inputinterface to the supplemental battery, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the input interface, along thecharging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge thesupplemental battery. The charging device can include a dischargeelectrical pathway from the supplemental battery to the outputinterface, and the controller can be configured to direct electricityfrom the supplemental battery, along the discharge electrical pathway,to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device. Thecharging device can include a bypass electrical pathway from the inputinterface to the output interface, and the controller can be configuredto direct electricity from the input interface, along the bypasselectrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobileelectronic device. The controller can be configured to direct a firstamount of current from the input interface, along the chargingelectrical pathway, to the supplemental battery, determine a firstvoltage associated with the first amount of current, determine that athreshold is satisfied based at least in part on the first voltage forthe first amount of current, direct a second amount of current from theinput interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to thesupplemental battery, wherein the second amount of current is greaterthan the first amount of current, determine a second voltage associatedwith the second amount of current, determine that the threshold is notsatisfied based at least in part on the second voltage for the secondamount of current, and determine a power output capacity of the externalpower supply coupled to the input interface based at least in part onthe determinations that the threshold is satisfied by the first amountof current at the first voltage and that the threshold is not satisfiedby the second amount of current at the second voltage.

The threshold can be a threshold voltage value. To determine that thethreshold is not satisfied based at least in part on the second voltagefor the second amount of current, the controller can be configured todetermine whether dV/dI exceeds a threshold value, wherein dV is avoltage difference between the second voltage and the first voltage, andwhere dI is a current difference between the second amount of currentand the first amount of current.

Determining the power output capacity of the external power supply canbe based at least in part on the first amount of current. The controllercan be configured to determine how much electrical power to direct alongone or more of the bypass electrical pathway, the charging electricalpathway, and the discharge electrical pathway based at least in part onthe determined power output capacity of the external power supply.

The charging device can include a protective case configured to at leastpartially enclose the mobile electronic device. The protective case caninclude a back portion configured to be positioned along at least aportion of a back side of the mobile electronic device, a right sideportion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a rightside of the mobile electronic device, a left side portion configured tobe positioned along at least a portion of a left side of the mobileelectronic device, a top portion configured to be positioned along atleast a portion of a top of the mobile electronic device, a bottomportion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottomof the mobile electronic device, and/or a front opening configured suchthat a display of the mobile electronic device is visible through thefront opening.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to an electrical devicefor empirically determining a power output capacity of a power supply.The electrical device can include a power input interface configured toreceive electrical power from a power supply, a variable load circuitconfigured to draw variable amounts of electrical current from the powersupply through the power input interface, a voltmeter configured todetermine an input voltage provided by the power supply as the variableamounts of electrical current are drawn from the power supply, and acontroller configured to incrementally increase the amount of electricalcurrent drawn by the variable load circuit from the power supply throughthe input interface, use the voltmeter to monitor the input voltageprovided by the power supply as the amount of electrical current isincrementally increased, and determine whether a threshold is satisfiedbased at least in part based on the monitored input voltage, while thethreshold is satisfied, continue to incrementally increase the amount ofelectrical current drawn by the variable load circuit from the powersupply through the input interface, and when the threshold is notsatisfied, determine a power output capacity of the power supply basedat least in part on one or more of the determinations of whether thethreshold was satisfied for the variable amounts of electrical current.

The variable load circuit can include a battery. The electrical devicecan include an output interface for outputting electrical power from thebattery for charging a mobile electronic device. The electrical devicecan include a protective case configured to at least partially enclosethe mobile electronic device. The controller can be configured todetermine how much electrical power to send to the battery and to theoutput interface based at least in part on the determined power outputcapacity of the power supply.

The controller can be configured to determine the power output capacityof the power supply based at least in part on the value of the highestamount of electrical current for which the threshold was determined tobe satisfied. The threshold can be a voltage value threshold.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include aprotective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobileelectronic device. The protective case can include a lower case portionthat case a back portion configured to be positioned along at least aportion of a back side of the mobile electronic device, a bottom portionconfigured to be positioned along at least a portion of a bottom of themobile electronic device, a right side portion configured to bepositioned along at least a portion of a right side of the mobileelectronic device, a left side portion configured to be positioned alongat least a portion of a left side of the mobile electronic device, anopen top side to facilitate insertion of the mobile electronic deviceinto the lower case portion, a supplemental battery disposed in the backportion of the lower case portion, an input interface on an exterior ofthe lower case portion, the input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, and an output interfaceon an interior of the lower case portion. The output interface can beconfigured to engage an electrical port on the mobile electronic deviceto output electrical power to the mobile electronic device. Theprotective case can include an upper case portion that has a top portionconfigured to be positioned along at least a portion of a top of themobile electronic device. The upper case portion can be configured toremovably couple to the lower case portion to hold the mobile electronicdevice in the protective case. A front opening of the protective casecan be configured such that a display of the mobile electronic device isvisible through the front opening when the upper case portion is coupledto the lower case portion. The charging device can include a batteryhealth monitor configured to monitor battery health information and todisable or limit charging or discharging of the supplemental batterybased at least in part on the battery health information.

The battery health monitor can include a temperature sensor configuredto measure a temperature for the charging device. The battery healthinformation can include charge cycle information. The battery healthinformation can include a health score, and the battery health monitorcan be configured to adjust the health score by a first amount upon atleast one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at afirst capacity range, and the battery health monitor can be configuredto adjust the health score by a second amount upon at least one ofcharging and discharging the supplemental battery at a second capacityrange. The battery health monitor can be configured to reduce the powercapacity to which the supplemental battery is charged in response to achange in the health score.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device, anda controller. The charging device can include a charging electricalpathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery, and thecontroller can be configured to direct electricity from the inputinterface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplementalbattery to charge the supplemental battery. The charging device caninclude a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery tothe output interface, and the controller can be configured to directelectricity from the supplemental battery, along the dischargeelectrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobileelectronic device. The charging device can include a bypass electricalpathway from the input interface to the output interface, and thecontroller can be configured to direct electricity from the inputinterface, along the bypass electrical pathway, to the output interfaceto charge the mobile electronic device. The charging device can includea computer-readable memory element. The controller can be configured tostore battery health information in the computer-readable memoryelement, disable or reduce electrical current along one or more of thecharging electrical pathway, the discharge electrical pathway, and thebypass electrical pathway based at least in part on the battery healthinformation.

The charging device can include a protective case configured to at leastpartially enclose the mobile electronic device.

The charging device can include a temperature sensor, and the batteryhealth information can include temperature information received from thetemperature sensor. The battery health information can include chargecycle information. The battery health information can include a healthscore, and the controller can be configured to adjust the health scoreby a first amount upon at least one of charging and discharging thesupplemental battery at a first capacity range, and the controller canbe configured to adjust the health score by a second amount upon atleast one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at asecond capacity range. The controller can be configured to reduce thepower capacity to which the supplemental battery is charged based inpart on the battery health information.

Upon detection of a major risk event, the controller can be configuredto disable the supplemental battery from charging and discharging, andprovide a notification to a user. Upon detection of a minor risk event,the controller can be configured to diagnose the health of thesupplemental battery to determine whether the supplemental battery isunrecoverable, partially recoverable, or fully recoverable. Upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is unrecoverable, thecontroller can be configured to disable the supplemental battery fromcharging and discharging, and provide a notification to a user. Upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is partially recoverable,the controller can be configured to resume charging and discharging ofthe supplemental battery at a reduced performance level. Upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is fully recoverable, thecontroller can be configured to resume normal charging and dischargingof the supplemental battery. A major risk event can include atemperature measurement of less than about −10 degrees Celsius orgreater than about 60 degrees Celsius. A minor risk event can include atemperature measurement between about −10 degrees Celsius and about 0degrees Celsius or between about 45 degrees Celsius and about 60 degreesCelsius.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source for charging thesupplemental battery, an output interface configured to outputelectrical power to a mobile electronic device, and a controllerconfigured to receive battery health information and to disable or limitcharging or discharging of the supplemental battery based at least inpart on the battery health information.

The charging device can include a protective case configured to at leastpartially enclose the mobile electronic device.

The charging device can include a temperature sensor, and the batteryhealth information can include temperature information received from thetemperature sensor. The battery health information can include chargecycle information. The battery health information can include a healthscore, and the controller can be configured to adjust the health scoreby a first amount upon at least one of charging and discharging thesupplemental battery at a first capacity range, and the controller canbe configured to adjust the health score by a second amount upon atleast one of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at asecond capacity range.

The controller can be configured to reduce the power capacity to whichthe supplemental battery is charged based at least in part on thebattery health information.

Upon detection of a major risk event, the controller can be configuredto disable the supplemental battery from charging and discharging, andprovide a notification to a user. Upon detection of a minor risk event,the controller can be configured to diagnose the health of thesupplemental battery to determine whether the supplemental battery isunrecoverable, partially recoverable, or fully recoverable. Upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is unrecoverable, thecontroller can be configured to disable the supplemental battery fromcharging and discharging and provide a notification to a user. Upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is partially recoverable,the controller can be configured to resume charging and discharging ofthe supplemental battery at a reduced performance level. Upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is fully recoverable, thecontroller can be configured to resume normal charging and dischargingof the supplemental battery.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to the mobile electronic device,and a controller. The charging device can include a charging electricalpathway from the input interface to the supplemental battery. Thecontroller can be configured to direct electricity from the inputinterface, along the charging electrical pathway, to the supplementalbattery to charge the supplemental battery. The charging device caninclude a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery tothe output interface. The controller can be configured to directelectricity from the supplemental battery, along the dischargeelectrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobileelectronic device. The charging device can include a bypass electricalpathway from the input interface to the output interface. The controllercan be configured to direct electricity from the input interface, alongthe bypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge themobile electronic device. The charging device can include a firstvoltage modifier on the charging electrical pathway between the inputinterface and the supplemental battery. The first voltage modifier canbe configured to reduce voltage that is supplied to the supplementalbattery from the input interface. The charging device can include asecond voltage modifier on the discharge electrical pathway between thesupplemental battery and the output interface, and the second voltagemodifier can be configured to increase voltage supplied from thesupplemental battery to the output interface. The second voltagemodifier can be on the bypass electrical pathway between the inputinterface and the output interface, and the second voltage modifier canbe configured to increase voltage supplied from the input interface tothe output interface.

The first voltage modifier can include a buck converter. The secondvoltage modifier can include a boost converter. The controller can beconfigured to actuate one or more switches to direct electricity alongthe charging electrical pathway, the discharge electrical pathway,and/or the bypass electrical pathway. The bypass electrical pathway caninclude a bypass switch between the input interface and the outputinterface. The charging electrical pathway can include a charging switchbetween the input interface and the supplemental battery.

The charging device can include a protective case configured to at leastpartially enclose the mobile electronic device. The protective case caninclude a back portion configured to be positioned along a back side ofthe mobile electronic device, a right side portion configured to bepositioned along a right side of the mobile electronic device, a leftside portion configured to be positioned along a left side of the mobileelectronic device, a top portion configured to be positioned along a topof the mobile electronic device, a bottom portion configured to bepositioned along a bottom of the mobile electronic device, and/or afront opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronicdevice is visible through the front opening.

The charging device can include a computer-readable memory element thatincludes power capacity information for the external power supply. Thecontroller can be configured to determine a first current for the bypasselectrical pathway and a second current for the charging electricalpathway based at least in part on the power capacity information. Thecontroller can be configured to direct supplemental electrical currentfrom the supplemental battery along the discharge electrical pathwaywhen the electrical current provided from the external power supplyalong the bypass electrical pathway is below a charging current value ofthe mobile electronic device. The controller can include at least onehardware processor and computer-executable instructions stored on atleast one memory element.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging devicethat can include a supplemental battery, an input interface, and outputinterface, a bypass electrical pathway from the input interface and theoutput interface without going through the supplemental battery, and avoltage modifier on the bypass electrical pathway configured to modifythe voltage supplied from the input interface, along the bypasselectrical pathway, to the output interface.

The charging device can include a discharge electrical pathway from thesupplemental battery to the output interface, and the dischargeelectrical pathway can go through the voltage modifier such that thevoltage modifier is configured to modify voltage supplied from thesupplemental battery to the output interface. The voltage modifier canbe configured to boost the voltage. The voltage modifier can be a boostconverter.

The charging device can include a protective case configured to at leastpartially enclose the mobile electronic device. The protective case caninclude a back portion configured to be positioned along a back side ofthe mobile electronic device, a right side portion configured to bepositioned along a right side of the mobile electronic device, a leftside portion configured to be positioned along a left side of the mobileelectronic device, a top portion configured to be positioned along a topof the mobile electronic device, a bottom portion configured to bepositioned along a bottom of the mobile electronic device, and/or afront opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronicdevice is visible through the front opening. The output interface caninclude an electrical connector extending upward from the bottom portionand configured to engage an electrical port on the mobile electronicdevice.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a method fordetermining power output capacity of a power supply. The method caninclude charging a battery with a first amount of current from the powersupply, measuring a first voltage provided by the power supply whencharging the battery with the first amount of current, determining thatthe first voltage is above a threshold voltage value, charging thebattery with a second amount of current from the power supply, whereinthe second amount of current is higher than the first amount of current,measuring a second voltage provided by the power supply when chargingthe battery with the second amount of current, determining that thesecond voltage is above the threshold voltage value, attempting tocharge the battery with a third amount of current from the power supply,wherein the third amount of current is higher than the second amount ofcurrent, measuring a third voltage provided by the power supply whenattempting to charge the battery with the third amount of current,determining that the third voltage is below the threshold voltage value,and determining the power output capacity of the power supply based atleast in part on the value of the second amount of current.

The power output capacity can be determined based at least in part onthe value of the voltage threshold. The method can include charging thebattery with one or more additional current amounts that are between thesecond amount of current and the third amount of current, measuring oneor more additional voltages provided by the power supply when chargingthe battery at the one or more additional current amounts; anddetermining that the one or more additional voltages are above thethreshold voltage value.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a method ofdetermining an electrical power output capacity of a power supply. Themethod can include requesting electrical output from the power supply ata plurality of different values of electrical current, receivingelectrical output from the power supply at the plurality of differentvalues of electrical current, determining whether voltage associatedwith each of the plurality of different values of electrical current isabove or below a threshold voltage value, determining the electricaloutput power capacity of the power supply based at least in part on thedeterminations of whether the voltage associated with each of theplurality of different values of electrical current is above or belowthe threshold voltage value.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to the mobile electronic device,and a controller. A charging electrical pathway can extend from theinput interface to the supplemental battery, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the input interface, along thecharging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge thesupplemental battery. A discharge electrical pathway can extend from thesupplemental battery to the output interface, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, alongthe discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge themobile electronic device. A bypass electrical pathway can extend fromthe input interface to the output interface, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the input interface, along thebypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobileelectronic device. The controller can be configured to direct a firstamount of current from the input interface, along the chargingelectrical pathway, to the supplemental battery, determine whether afirst voltage associated with the first amount of current is above athreshold voltage value, direct a second amount of current from theinput interface, along the charging electrical pathway, to thesupplemental battery, determine whether a second voltage associated withthe second amount of current is above the threshold voltage value, anddetermine a power output capacity of an external power supply coupled tothe input interface based at least in part on the determinations ofwhether the first and second voltages were above the threshold voltagevalue.

The controller can be configured to use the determined power outputcapacity to determine amounts of electrical current to direct along oneor more of the bypass electrical pathway, the charging electricalpathway, and the discharge electrical pathway.

The charging device can include a protective case configured to at leastpartially enclose the mobile electronic device. The protective case caninclude a back portion configured to be positioned along a back side ofthe mobile electronic device, a right side portion configured to bepositioned along a right side of the mobile electronic device, a leftside portion configured to be positioned along a left side of the mobileelectronic device, a top portion configured to be positioned along a topof the mobile electronic device, a bottom portion configured to bepositioned along a bottom of the mobile electronic device, and/or afront opening configured such that a display of the mobile electronicdevice is visible through the front opening.

Various embodiment disclosed herein can relate to an electronic devicethat includes an input interface configured to receive electrical powerfrom an external power source, and a controller configured toempirically determine an electrical power capacity of the external powersource.

The electronic device can include a battery. The controller can beconfigured to empirically determine the electrical power capacity of theexternal power source by incrementally increasing the amount ofelectrical current drawn from the external power source to charge thebattery while monitoring the input voltage from the external powersource. The electronic device can include a memory element, and thecontroller can be configured to store the determined electrical powercapacity in the memory element. The controller can be configured to usethe determined electrical power capacity to determine amounts ofelectrical current to direct along one or more of a bypass electricalpathway, a charging electrical pathway, and a discharge electricalpathway.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to the mobile electronic device,and a controller. A charging electrical pathway can extend from theinput interface to the supplemental battery, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the input interface, along thecharging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge thesupplemental battery. A discharge electrical pathway can extend from thesupplemental battery to the output interface, wherein the controller isconfigured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, alongthe discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge themobile electronic device. A bypass electrical pathway can extend fromthe input interface to the output interface, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the input interface, along thebypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobileelectronic device. The charging device can include a temperature sensor.The controller can be configured to receive temperature informationmeasured by the temperature sensor, determine whether the measuredtemperature is above a threshold temperature value, and reduce ordisable electrical current on one or more of the charging electricalpathway, the discharge electrical pathway, and the bypass electricalpathway when the measured temperature is above the threshold temperaturevalue.

The temperature sensor can be configured to measure a temperature of theinside of the charging device, a temperature outside of the chargingdevice, and/or a temperature associated with the supplemental battery.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging devicethat includes a supplemental battery, an input interface configured toreceive electrical power from an external power source, an outputinterface configured to output electrical power, a temperature sensor,and a controller that can be configured to reduce or disable electricalcurrent in response to temperature information from the temperaturesensor.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to the mobile electronic device,and a controller. A charging electrical pathway can extend from theinput interface to the supplemental battery, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the input interface, along thecharging electrical pathway, to the supplemental battery to charge thesupplemental battery. A discharge electrical pathway can extend from thesupplemental battery to the output interface, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the supplemental battery, alongthe discharge electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge themobile electronic device. A bypass electrical pathway can extend fromthe input interface to the output interface, and the controller can beconfigured to direct electricity from the input interface, along thebypass electrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobileelectronic device. The charging device can include a computer-readablememory element. The controller can be configured to store battery healthinformation in the memory element, disable or reduce electrical currentalong one or more of the charging electrical pathway, the dischargeelectrical pathway, and the bypass electrical pathway based at least inpart on the battery health information.

The battery health information can include temperature informationreceived from a temperature sensor of the charging device. The batteryhealth information can include charge cycle information.

Various embodiment disclosed herein can relate to a charging device thatincludes a supplemental battery, an input interface configured toreceive electrical power from an external power source, an outputinterface configured to output electrical power, a memory element thatcan include battery health information, and a controller that can beconfigured to disable the charging device based at least in part on thebattery health information.

The battery health information can include temperature informationreceived from a temperature sensor of the charging device. The batteryhealth information can include charge cycle information.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a method fordetermining a power output capacity of a power supply. The method caninclude drawing a first amount of current from the power supply,receiving a first voltage provided by the power supply when drawing thefirst amount of current, drawing a second amount of current from thepower supply, wherein the second amount of current is greater than thefirst amount of current by a current difference, receiving a secondvoltage provided by the power supply when drawing the second amount ofcurrent, the second voltage being different from the first voltage by avoltage difference, determining that the voltage difference per thecurrent difference exceeds a threshold change rate, and determining thepower output capacity of the power supply based at least in part on thedetermination that the threshold change rate is exceeded.

The method can include drawing a percentage of the power output capacityof the power supply, and charging a first battery of a mobile electronicdevice while drawing the drawing the percentage of the power outputcapacity of the power supply. The method can include drawing a thirdamount of current from the power supply, receiving a third voltageprovided by the power supply while drawing the third amount of current,and determining that the third voltage is below a voltage threshold;wherein determining the power output capacity comprises determining acurrent output capacity that is between the first current amount and thethird current amount. Charging the first battery includes routing thepercentage of the power output capacity of the power supply through acharging device to the first battery. The charging device can include asupplemental battery. Charging the first battery can include chargingthe first battery at a charging capacity of the first battery. Themethod can include charging a supplemental battery of a charging devicewith at least a portion of the power output capacity.

The method can include drawing additional currents from the powersupply. The additional currents can be between the first amount ofcurrent and the second amount of current. The method can includereceiving additional voltages when drawing the additional currents, anddetermining whether or not the threshold change rate was exceeded whenreceiving the additional voltages when drawing the additional currents.

The method can include drawing a third amount of current from the powersupply, wherein the third amount of current is greater than the firstamount of current by a second current difference, and the third amountof current can be different (e.g., less) than the second amount ofcurrent, receiving a third voltage provided by the power supply whendrawing the third amount of current, the third voltage being differentfrom the first voltage by a second voltage difference, determining thatthe second voltage difference per the second current difference iswithin the threshold change rate.

Various embodiments can relate to a method for determining a poweroutput capacity of a power supply. The method can include charging abattery with a first amount of current from the power supply, measuringa first voltage provided by the power supply when charging the firstbattery with the first amount of current, charging the battery with asecond amount of current from the power supply, wherein the secondamount of current is higher than the first amount of current by a firstcurrent difference, measuring a second voltage provided by the powersupply when charging the first battery with the second amount ofcurrent, wherein the second voltage is different from the first voltageby a first voltage difference, determining that the first voltagedifference per first current difference is within a threshold changevalue, attempting to charge the battery with a third amount of currentfrom the power supply, wherein the third amount of current is higherthan the second amount of current by a second current difference,measuring a third voltage provided by the power supply when attemptingto charge the first battery with the third amount of current, whereinthe third voltage is different from the second voltage by a secondvoltage difference, determining that the second voltage difference persecond current difference exceeds the threshold change value, anddetermining the power output capacity of the power supply based at leastin part on the value of the second amount of current.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, the input interfacesupporting a plurality of input connection types; an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to the mobile electronic device,the output interface supporting a plurality of output connection types,and a controller. The controller can be configured to negotiate, whencoupled to the external power source, a selected input connection type,the selected input connection type having a highest input power capacitycompatible with the external power source, negotiate, when coupled tothe mobile electronic device, a selected output connection type, theselected output connection type having a highest output power capacitycompatible with the mobile electronic device, enable a bypass electricalpathway from the input interface to the output interface when theselected input connection type and the selected output connection typeare the same, enable a charging pathway to charge both the mobileelectronic device and the supplemental battery when the highest inputpower capacity exceeds the highest output power capacity, and enable asupplemental charging pathway to charge the mobile electronic devicewhen the input power capacity is less than the highest output powercapacity.

The controller can be configured to establish the selected inputconnection type having the highest input power capacity compatible withthe external power source by negotiating with the external power sourceto maximize power draw.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include asupplemental battery, an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source, an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to the mobile electronic device, ahost detector configured to detect coupling of a universal serial bus(USB) host, an electronic device detector configured to detect couplingof the mobile electronic device, and a controller. The controller can beconfigured to identify, through the input interface, the charging deviceas a charging downstream port when the host detector detects the coupledUSB host and the electronic device detector detects no electronicdevice. The controller can be configured to charge the supplementalbattery from the external power source when the host detector detectsthe coupled USB host and the electronic device detector detects noelectronic device. The controller can be configured to identify, throughthe output interface, the charging device as a dedicated charger whenthe host detector detects no host and the electronic device detectordetects the coupled mobile electronic device. The controller can beconfigured to charge the mobile electronic device from the supplementalbattery when the host detector detects no host and the electronic devicedetector detects the coupled mobile electronic device. The controllercan be configured to enable a bypass electrical pathway from the inputinterface to the output interface when the host detector detects thecoupled USB host and the electronic device detector detects the coupledmobile electronic device.

The controller can be configured to, after receiving no data for atleast a timeout period, change the identification of the device, throughthe input interface, to identify as a dedicated charger.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device. The charging device can include abattery health monitor configured to report battery health information.The battery health monitor can include a fuel gauge configured toperform coulomb counting, memory configured to store charging historydata, and an event detector configured to detect a risk event. Thecharging device can include a microcontroller unit and a supplementalbattery monitored by the battery health monitor. The microcontrollerunit can be configured to adjust the performance of the supplementalbattery based at least in part on the battery health information.

The microcontroller unit can be configured to adjust the performance ofthe supplemental battery by determining, based at least in part on thecoulomb counting, a reduced power capacity for the supplemental battery,and reducing a power capacity to which the supplemental battery ischarged. The microcontroller unit can be configured to adjust theperformance of the supplemental battery by determining, based at leastin part on the history data, an increased supplemental battery voltagelimit and a decreased supplemental battery current limit, and chargingand discharging the supplemental battery using a voltage amount at orexceeding the increased supplemental battery voltage limit and using acurrent amount at or less than the decreased supplemental batterycurrent limit.

The risk event detector can include at least one of a temperaturedetector, a drop detector, an impact detector, a bending detector, ashort circuit detector, and a water detector.

Adjusting the performance of the supplemental battery can include, uponthe detection of a major risk event, notifying a user and permanentlydisabling the supplemental battery from charging and discharging.Adjusting the performance of the supplemental battery can include, uponthe detection of a minor risk event, performing diagnostic tests on thebattery, notifying the user, at least one of temporarily disabling thesupplemental battery from charging and discharging, and temporarilyadjusting a performance of the supplemental battery, and depending onresults of the diagnostic tests, at least one of resuming normalperformance of the supplemental battery, permanently adjusting theperformance of the supplemental battery, and permanently disabling thesupplemental battery.

Adjusting the performance of the supplemental battery can include atleast one of changing a supplemental battery capacity limit, changing asupplemental battery charging voltage limit, changing a supplementalbattery discharging voltage limit, changing a supplemental batterycharging current limit, and changing a supplemental battery dischargingcurrent limit.

Various embodiments disclosed here can relate to a method for managingbattery health of a supplemental battery by tracking a health score. Themethod can include adjusting the health score by a first amount upon atleast one of charging and discharging a first capacity range of thesupplemental battery, adjusting the health score by a second amount uponat least one of charging and discharging a second capacity range of thesupplemental battery, and adjusting the performance of the supplementalbattery based at least in part on the health score and a thresholdvalue.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a method forprotecting a charging device for a mobile electronic device against riskevents. The method can include detecting a major risk event, disablingcharging to a supplemental battery, disabling charging from thesupplemental battery, and notifying a user of the major risk event.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a method forprotecting a charging device for a mobile electronic device against riskevents. The method can include detecting a minor risk event, at leastone of temporarily disabling charging and discharging to a supplementalbattery and temporarily adjusting a performance of the supplementalbattery. The method can include diagnosing the health of thesupplemental battery. Upon determining that the health of thesupplemental battery is unrecoverable, the method can include disablingcharging to a supplemental battery, disabling charging from thesupplemental battery, and notifying a user of the risk event. Upondetermining that the health of the supplemental battery is partiallyrecoverable, the method can include permanently adjusting theperformance of the supplemental battery. Upon determining that thehealth of the supplemental battery is fully recoverable, the method caninclude resuming normal charging and discharging performance of thebattery.

The method can include waiting for the minor risk event condition toclear, and subsequent to determining that the health of the supplementalbattery is fully recoverable increasing the performance of the batteryto less than normal performance, and performing additional diagnosticbattery health monitoring.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a method for managinga charging device for a mobile electronic device. The method can includecharging the mobile electronic device with a first voltage and a firstcurrent from a supplemental battery of the charging device, storing acharging profile history based at least in part on the charging of themobile electronic device, determining, based at least in part on acharging profile history, a new voltage and new current, charging themobile electronic device with electric power characterized by the newvoltage and the new current from the supplemental battery of thecharging device.

The charging profile history can include at least one of a duration ofthe charging of the mobile electronic device with the first voltage andfirst current, a capacity of the mobile electronic device with the firstvoltage and first current, a time of day of the charging of the mobileelectronic device with the first voltage and first current, a day ofweek of the charging of the mobile electronic device with the firstvoltage and first current, and a power capacity of supplemental batterywhen charging the mobile electronic device.

The charging profile history can include the duration of the charging ofthe mobile electronic device with the first voltage and first current.The duration can exceed a threshold efficient time value. The newvoltage can be higher than the first voltage, and the new current can beless than the first current.

The charging profile history can include the duration of the charging ofthe mobile electronic device with the first voltage and first current.The duration can be less than a threshold speed time value. The newvoltage can be lower than the first voltage, and the new current can behigher than the first current.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to an ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for charging a charging a mobileelectronic device and a supplemental battery. The ASIC can include abattery management unit comprising a voltage regulator, a reconfigurableprotection circuit module (PCM) configured to protect the supplementalbattery at one or more protection limits, a microcontroller unit (MCU)comprising a processor and memory, where the microcontroller can beconfigured to reconfigure one or more protection limits, a low drop out(LDO) regulator module configured to output a regulated voltage, abattery health module configured to monitor a health status of thesupplemental battery, and/or a universal serial bus (USB) switch moduleconfigured to identify the charging device to the mobile electronicdevice. The ASIC can be configured to charge the mobile electronicdevice with power from at least one of the supplemental battery and anexternal power supply.

The voltage regulator can include a boost converter. The batterymanagement unit can include a buck converter and a bypass electricalpathway. The PCM can be configured to protect the supplemental batteryagainst an overvoltage limit and an overcurrent limit. The USB switchcan include a USB bypass pathway configured to couple a USB inputinterface port to a USB output interface port.

The voltage regulator can include a buck converter. The batterymanagement unit can include a boost converter. The supplemental batterycan be configured to charge at a supplemental charging voltage level.The ASIC can be configured to receive electrical power from the externalpower source, the received electrical power characterized by an inputvoltage level and input current level, and charge the mobile electronicdevice at a device charging voltage. The battery management unit can beconfigured to boost the received electrical power from the input voltagelevel to a higher voltage level. The higher voltage level can be ahigher one of the supplemental charging voltage level and the devicecharging voltage level. The battery management unit can be configured tobuck an electrical power supply from the higher voltage level to a lowervoltage level. The lower voltage level can be a lower one of thesupplemental charging voltage level and the device charging voltagelevel.

The reconfigurable PCM can be configured to protect the supplementalbattery at the one or more protection limits comprising an overvoltagelimit and an overcurrent limit. The MCU can include an overvoltageregister coupled through a first digital to analog converter (DAC) toovervoltage protection circuitry in the PCM. The MCU can include anovercurrent register coupled through a second DAC to overcurrentprotection circuitry in the PCM. The battery health module can beconfigured to, upon detecting a battery health problem, cause the MCU tochange adjust a first value stored in the overvoltage register and tochange a second value stored in the overcurrent register.

The USB switch module can be configured to register as a downstreamcharging device to a USB host and change to a dedicated charging portafter receiving no data from the USB host for at least a thresholdperiod of time, register as a dedicated charger to the mobile electronicdevice, and couple a USB host to the mobile electronic device via a USBbypass pathway to the USB host.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a charging device fordetermining a power output capacity of a power supply. The chargingdevice can include a power input interface configured to draw a firstamount of current from the power supply through the power inputinterface, receive a first voltage provided by the power supply whendrawing the first amount of current, draw a second amount of currentfrom the power supply, wherein the second amount of current is greaterthan the first amount of current by a current difference, and receive asecond voltage provided by the power supply when drawing the secondamount of current, the second voltage being different from the firstvoltage by a voltage difference. The charging device can include acomparator configured to determine that the voltage difference per thecurrent difference exceeds a threshold change rate. The charging devicecan include a processor configured to determine the power outputcapacity of the power supply based at least in part on the determinationthat the threshold change rate is exceeded. The charging device caninclude a supplemental battery configured to receive power from thepower supply.

Various embodiments disclosed herein can relate to a reconfigurablesystem for protecting a supplemental battery. The system can include aregister, a processor configured to write a value to the register, ananalog to digital converter configured to convert the value in theregister to an analog voltage on an analog line, and an operationalamplifier having a first input coupled to the supplemental battery andhaving a second input coupled to the analog line. The operationalamplifier can be configured to output on an detection line one of anovervoltage detection signal, an undervoltage detection signal, anovercurrent detection signal, and an undercurrent detection signal,based at least in part on a voltage on the analog line and a voltage atthe first input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a charging devicecoupled to an external power source and configured to couple to a mobileelectronic device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example embodiment charging deviceprotective case with a mobile electronic device coupled thereto.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the charging device protective case inan open configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a chargingdevice coupled via electrical cables to two mobile electronic devices.

FIG. 5 a is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a chargingdevice.

FIG. 5 b is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a chargingdevice.

FIG. 6 is another schematic view of an example embodiment of a chargingdevice.

FIG. 7 is another schematic view of an example embodiment of a chargingdevice.

FIG. 8 is another schematic view of an example embodiment of a chargingdevice.

FIG. 9 is another schematic view of an example embodiment of a chargingdevice.

FIG. 9 a is a flowchart of an example embodiment of a method formanaging power.

FIG. 9 b is a flowchart of an example embodiment of a method formanaging power.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method fordetermining power capacity of a power source.

FIG. 11 is another flowchart showing an example embodiment of a methodfor determining power capacity of a power source.

FIG. 12 is another flowchart showing an example embodiment of a methodfor determining power capacity of a power source.

FIG. 13 a is a flowchart showing another example embodiment of a methodfor managing heat in a charging device.

FIG. 13 b is a flowchart showing another example embodiment of a methodfor managing a charging device.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing an example of effects of drawing current froma power supply.

FIG. 15 is another graph showing an example of effects of drawingcurrent from a power supply.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another example embodiment of a methodfor determining power capacity of a power source.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of an example circuit for measuring voltageand current.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method foroptimizing charging based on charging history.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method formanaging a battery based on a battery health score.

FIG. 20 is an example of a table showing health score information.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a fuel gauge circuit.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method formanaging a battery.

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC).

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) module in a first configuration.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a USB module ina second configuration.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a USB module ina third configuration.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a reconfigurableprotection circuit module.

FIG. 28 is schematic view of an example embodiment of a reconfigurablesystem for protecting a battery.

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a window controlcircuit.

The illustrated embodiments are disclosed by way of example, and are notintended to be limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Many mobile electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablet computers,smart watches, or smart glasses, have an internal power storage unit,which can be a rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery of themobile electronic can be charged through an external power source (e.g.,an electrical power outlet). In some instances, an external chargingdevice can have a supplemental battery and can be used to output powerto recharge the battery of the mobile electronic device. The externalcharging device can have an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source (e.g., an electricalpower outlet) for charging the supplemental battery of the chargingdevice and/or for passing the electrical power to the mobile electronicdevice to recharge the battery of the mobile electronic device. In somecircumstances, the electrical power relayed from the input interfacethrough the charging device to the mobile electronic device can beoutside the voltage range that is accepted by the mobile electronicdevice. For example, the electrical power that is passed through thecharging device can have a voltage that is below a minimum voltage levelthat is accepted by the mobile electronic device for various reasons,such as the use of an improper external power supply (e.g., wrong wallcharger unit), a malfunction of the external power supply, voltage dropalong a cable extending between the external power supply and thecharging device (e.g., if an unusually long cable were used), voltagedrop along interfaces or other components of the charging device, etc.Accordingly, in some circumstances electrical power that is merelypassed through the charging device might be rejected by the mobileelectronic device.

In some embodiments, the charging device can include a voltage modifier(e.g., a boost converter, a buck converter, or voltage regulator) tochange the voltage being passed through the charging device such thatthe voltage that is output to the mobile electronic device is within theacceptable voltage range for the mobile electronic device. The chargingdevice can have a charging electrical pathway from the input interfaceto the supplemental battery (e.g., for recharging the supplementalbattery). The charging device can have a discharge electrical pathwayfrom the supplemental battery 102 to an output interface (e.g., forusing the supplemental battery 102 to recharge the battery of the mobileelectronic device). The charging device can have a bypass electricalpathway from the input interface to the output interface (e.g., forrelaying electricity from an external power source such as a wallcharger, through the charging device, and to the mobile electronicdevice, such as to charge the battery of the mobile electronic device).In some embodiments, the bypass electrical pathway does not include thesupplemental battery. In some embodiments, the bypass electrical pathwaycan include a voltage modifier, as discussed herein, such that thevoltage output by the charging device is accepted by the mobileelectronic device (e.g., above a minimum voltage threshold or within anacceptable voltage range). In some implementations, the same voltagemodifier can be used by the bypass electrical pathway and the dischargeelectrical pathway.

In various circumstances it can be advantageous for the charging deviceto interrogate an external power supply that is coupled to the inputinterface to determine features of the electrical output (e.g., outputvoltage, output current, and/or output power capacity) of the externalpower supply. In some embodiments, the charging device can be configuredto charge the supplemental battery of the charging device and thebattery of the mobile electronic device simultaneously. For example,when the charging device is coupled to an external power supply, thecharging device can provide electricity to the mobile electronic device(e.g., via the bypass electrical pathway) and to the supplementalbattery (e.g. via the charging electrical pathway). The charging devicecan provide the appropriate electrical power to the mobile electronicdevice (e.g., for charging the battery of the mobile electronic device),and the charging device can use some or all of the surplus electricalpower to charge the supplemental battery of the charging device. Anaccurate assessment of the power capacity of the external power supplycan enable the charging device to effectively utilize the external powersupply, which can result in reduced energy waste and faster charging.

In some embodiments, the charging device can be configured to determinethe electrical power capacity of the external power supply from one ormore bias voltages output by the external power supply (e.g., from theD+ and/or D− lines).

In some embodiments, the charging device can be configured to determinethe electrical power capacity of the external power supply empirically.The charging device can incrementally increase the amount of electricalpower drawn from the external power supply while monitoring the inputfrom the external power supply, and when the monitored input from theexternal power supply indicates that the external power supply hassurpassed its maximum power capacity, the charging device can determinethe maximum power capacity of the external power supply. By way ofexample, the charging device can draw a first amount of current from theexternal power supply to charge the supplemental battery, and thecharging device can monitor the input voltage received from the externalpower supply. If the input voltage is in the acceptable range for thefirst amount of current, the charging device can increase the amount ofcurrent drawn from the external power supply to charge the supplementalbattery up to a second level. If the input voltage is in the acceptablerange for the second amount of current, the charging device can againincrease the amount of current drawn from the external power supply to athird level, and so on, until the input voltage drops below theacceptable range. When the input voltage drops below the acceptablerange, the charging device can determine that the maximum power capacityof the external power supply has been surpassed, and can determine themaximum power capacity of the external power supply based at least inpart on the value of the highest amount of current that provided aninput voltage within the acceptable range.

Many variations and alternatives are possible, some of which arediscussed herein. For example, in some embodiments, instead ofincrementally increasing the amount of current drawn from the externalpower supply, an algorithm can be used to draw different amounts ofcurrent (e.g. some lower than the maximum capacity and higher than themaximum capacity) in order to determine the capacity of the externalpower supply with better accuracy and/or in less time.

The empirical interrogation of the external power supply can beadvantageous over the bias voltage approach, because the determinationsmade by the empirical interrogation are based on the actual capabilitiesof the individual power supply being used, not on a value assigned tothe general type or class of power supply. For example, if a powersupply were to malfunction or if a long cable were used that produces asignificant drop in power, the bias voltage approach could mistakenlyreport a maximum power capacity that the external power supply cannotactually meet. Also, in some instances an individual power supply canactually be able to output more electrical power than the valueindicated using the bias voltage approach (e.g., a manufacturer canassign a conservative power capacity to a power supply), such that usingthe empirical interrogation approach can reduce the amount of power thatgoes to waste and result in faster charging. Additionally, in someinstances, the empirical interrogation can provide increased precision.For example, a limited number of power capacity values can be resolvedusing the bias voltage approach. Using the empirical interrogationapproach, increased precision can be provided, for example, bydecreasing the size of the incremental increases in current that isdrawn from the external power supply.

In some embodiments, the charging device can use both the bias voltageapproach and the empirical approach. In some embodiments, the results ofthe two approaches can be compared, and if the difference between theresults of the two approaches is above a threshold value, the chargingdevice can determine that an error occurred, issue a warning, disablethe charging device, or take other action.

In some embodiments, the charging device can be configured to monitortemperature (e.g., an interior temperature and/or an exteriortemperature). The charging device can include one or more temperaturesensors (e.g., one or more sensors or thermistors) configured to measurethe internal temperature inside the charging device at one or morelocations. The charging device can include one or more temperaturesensors (e.g., one or more thermistors) configured to measure anexternal temperature outside the charging device. The charging devicecan be configured to reduce the amount of electrical current (e.g.,current used to charge the supplemental battery of the charging device,current from the supplemental battery 102 to the output interface,and/or current from the input interface to the output interface forpassing electricity through the charging device to the mobile electronicdevice) as the temperature (e.g., internal and/or external temperature)rises. The charging device can use a formula, algorithm, and/or lookuptable, etc. to determine how much to lower the current as thetemperature rises.

In some embodiments, if the measured temperature (e.g., the internaland/or external temperature) is above an threshold temperature value,below a threshold temperature value, or outside a temperature range, thecharging device can be configured to issue a warning, disable thesupplemental battery, disable the charging device, and/or take otheraction. For example, if the charging device were exposed to atemperature that is extreme enough to damage the supplemental battery,the charging device can disable charging of and/or discharging from thesupplemental battery.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example embodiment of a charging device100 that can be used to charge a mobile electronic device 150. Themobile electronic device 150 can be a mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone), a tablet computer, a smart watch, smart glasses, etc. In someembodiments, the mobile electronic device 150 can include a battery 152,which can be configured to power electrical components of the mobileelectronic device 150. The battery 152 can be a rechargeable battery(e.g., a lithium ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, or othersuitable battery type). The mobile electronic device 150 can include acontroller 154, which can be configured to operate various othercomponents of the mobile electronic device 150. The controller 154 canbe implemented in one or more processors, one or more integratedcircuits, etc. In some embodiments, the controller 154 can executeinstructions stored in one or more memory elements 156, although in someimplementations the controller 154 can be a self-contained integratedcircuit with instructions effectively hard coded into the hardwarecircuitry. The mobile electronic device 150 can include additionalfeatures, such as one or more input and/or output elements (e.g., atouchscreen display 158), a speaker, a microphone, an antenna forwireless communication, etc.

The mobile electronic device 150 can include an input interface 160,which can be configured to receive electrical power from an outsidesource (e.g., from the charging device 100 and/or from the externalpower source 180). The input interface 160 can be a port (e.g., amicro-USB port or Lightning port) configured to receive an electricalconnector (e.g., a micro-USB connector or Lightning connector) therein.The mobile electronic device 150 can be configured to use the electricalpower received by the input interface 160 to operate electricalcomponents of the mobile electronic device 150 and/or to charge thebattery 152. The mobile electronic device 150 can include electricalinterconnections to direct electricity between electrical components. Insome embodiments, the input interface 160 can be configured to send datafrom or receive data to the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., to syncthe mobile electronic device). It should be understood that in someinstances the input interface 160 can be used to output informationand/or electrical power from the mobile electronic device 150.

The charging device 100 can include a supplemental battery 102, whichcan be configured to power electrical components of the charging device100 and/or to output electrical power from the charging device 100(e.g., via the output interface 112), such as for recharging the battery152 of the mobile electronic device 150. The supplemental battery 102can be a rechargeable battery (e.g., a lithium ion battery, a lithiumpolymer battery, or other suitable battery type). The charging device100 can include a controller 104, which can be configured to operatevarious components of the charging device 100 (e.g., as describedherein). The controller 104 can be implemented in one or moreprocessors, one or more integrated circuits, etc. In some embodiments,the controller 104 can execute instructions stored in one or more memoryelements 106 of the charging device 100, although in someimplementations the controller 104 can be a self-contained integratedcircuit with instructions effectively hard coded into the hardwarecircuitry. In some embodiments, certain components can be integratedinto an application specific integrated circuit also known as an ASIC(not shown in FIG. 1). For example, the controller 104, memory 106, andtemperature sensors 142 and other components can be part of the ASIC(not shown in FIG. 1). In other embodiments, these components can bediscrete components.

The charging device 100 can include an input interface 110, which can beconfigured to receive electrical power from an outside source (e.g.,from the external power source 180). The input interface 110 can be aport (e.g., a micro-USB port or Lightning port) configured to receive anelectrical connector 182 (e.g., a micro-USB connector or Lightningconnector) therein. The external power source 180 can be a wall chargerunit, which can be configured to plug into an electrical power outlet.An electrical cable 184 can connect the external power source 180 to theelectrical connector 182. Many variations are possible. For example, insome implementations, the charging device 100 can include an electricalcable with an electrical connector at the end thereof that is configuredto plug into and receive power from an external power source 180. Thecharging device 100 can be configured to use the electrical powerreceived by the input interface 110 to charge the supplemental battery102 and/or to operate electrical components of the charging device 100.The charging device 100 can include electrical interconnections todirect electricity between electrical components.

The charging device 100 can include an output interface 112, which canbe configured to output electrical power (e.g., to power the mobileelectronic device 150 and/or to charge the battery 152). The outputinterface 112 can be an electrical connector (e.g., a micro-USBconnector or Lighting connector) that can be configured to be receivedby the input interface 160 of the mobile electronic device 150. In someembodiments, an electrical cable (not shown in FIG. 1) can extendbetween the output interface 112 and the main body of the chargingdevice 100. In some embodiments, the output interface 112 can be a port(e.g., a USB port), which can be configured to receive an electricalconnector (e.g., a USB connector) of an interconnection element (notshown in FIG. 1) that can be configured to electrically couple thecharging device 100 to the mobile electronic device 150.

In some embodiments, the input interface 110 can be configured to senddata from or receive data to the charging device 100. In someembodiments, the input interface 110 and the output interface 112 can beconfigured to relay data to and/or from the mobile electronic device 150(e.g., to sync the mobile electronic device 150 while it is coupled tothe charging device 100). It should be understood that in some instancesthe input interface 110 can be used to output information and/orelectrical power from the charging device 100, and in some instances theoutput interface 112 can be used to input information and/or electricalpower to the charging device 100.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments, the chargingdevice 100 can be a protective case that is configured to enclose atleast part of the mobile electronic device 150. For example, theprotective case charging device 100 can be a Juice Pack product sold bymophie of Tustin, Calif. Additional details regarding the protectivecase charging device 100 are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/492,785, filed Jun. 8, 2012, and published as U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2012/0303520 on Nov. 29, 2012, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/020,710, filed Sep. 6, 2013, and published asU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0165379 on Jun. 19, 2014,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Theprotective case charging device 100 can include two or more housingpieces that removably couple together to form the protective casing.FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of a protective case charging device100 in a closed configuration with a mobile electronic device 150attached thereto. FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of a protectivecase charging device 100 in an open configuration with the mobileelectronic device 150 removed.

The protective case charging device 100 can include a lower portion 101and an upper portion 103, which can removably couple together. The casecan include a back portion 105 configured to extend across a back of themobile electronic device 150, a right side portion 107 configured toextend along a right side of the mobile electronic device 150, a leftside portion 109 configured to extend along a left side of the mobileelectronic device 150, a top portion 111 configured to extend along atop of the mobile electronic device 150, and/or a bottom portion 113configured to extend along a bottom of the mobile electronic device 150.The back portion 105, right side portion 107, left side portion 109, topportion 111, and/or bottom portion 113 can include openings to provideaccess to various feature of the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., thecamera, the flash, the headphone port, the volume buttons, the powerbutton, the vibrate/sound switch, etc.). The protective case chargingdevice 100 can have a front opening through which the display 158 of themobile electronic device is visible.

The output interface 112 can extend upward from the bottom portion 113and can be configured to enter the input interface 160 of the mobileelectronic device 150 when the mobile electronic device 150 is attachedto the protective case. In some embodiments, no electrical cable extendsbetween the output interface 112 of the charging device 100 and theinput interface 160 of the mobile electronic device 150. The inputinterface 110 can be positioned on an external portion of the protectivecase charging device 100, such that an electrical connector 182 can becoupled thereto while the mobile electronic device 150 is attached tothe case. For example, the input interface 110 can be positioned on thebottom of the bottom portion 113, although other suitable locations canbe used, such as on the back of the back portion 105, on the outside ofthe right side portion 107, or on the outside of the left side portion109.

The supplemental battery 102 can be disposed in the back portion 105 ofthe protective case charging element 100, for example, such that thesupplemental battery 102 is disposed directly behind the mobileelectronic device 150. In some embodiments, the supplemental battery 102can be disposed in the upper portion 103 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The lowerportion 101 and the upper portion 103 can include electrical connectorsthat are configured to couple when the lower portion 101 engages theupper portion 103 so the electrical charge can be transferred betweenthe lower portion 101 (e.g., having the input interface 110 and/or theoutput interface 112) and the upper portion 103 (e.g., having thesupplemental battery 102).

Many other configurations are possible. For example, the supplementalbattery 102 can be disposed in the lower portion 101, and the seambetween the lower portion 101 and the upper portion 103 can be locatedcloser to the top of the protective case. The supplemental battery 102can be positioned in the same portion of the case (e.g., the lowerportion 101 or the upper portion 103) as the input interface 110 and/orthe output interface 112. In some embodiments, the protective casecharging device 100 can include a back portion and a front portion(e.g., instead of the lower portion 101 and the upper portion 103) thatremovably couple together to form the casing. For example, the backportion can include the supplemental battery 102, the input interface100, and the output interface 112, and the front portion can providewalls that extend around the full periphery of the display 158. Forexample, the front portion can have a top wall, a right side wall, aleft side wall, and a bottom wall. In some embodiments, the protectivecase charging device 100 can be a single-piece casing. For example, themobile electronic device 150 can fit into the casing (e.g. snap into thecasing) without the casing needing to come apart. In some embodiments,the casing can comprise at least some portions formed of a flexiblematerial such that the casing can flex to allow the mobile electronicdevice 150 to enter and/or exit the casing. In some embodiments, thecasing can be made of rigid materials, such as hard plastic. In someembodiments, the casing can have an open portion (e.g., an open topportion) so that the mobile electronic device 150 can slide into thecasing.

The charging device 100 can be a portable device, which can beconfigured to be carried by a user (e.g., attached to the mobileelectronic device (see FIGS. 2-3) or in a pocket or backpack). Withreference to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the charging device 100 can becan separate mobile device that is distinct from the mobile electronicdevice 150 (e.g., not designed to contact the mobile electronic deviceexcept for the electrical connection between the output interface 112 ofthe charging device 100 and the input interface 160 of the mobileelectronic device 150. In FIG. 4, the charging device can be apowerstation product sold by mophie of Tustin, Calif.

In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can include multiple outputinterfaces and can be configured to charge two mobile electronic devicessimultaneously. In FIG. 4, the charging device includes two outputinterfaces 112 a and 112 b for charging two mobile electronic devices150 a and 150 b simultaneously.

Interconnection elements 115 a and 115 b can be used to couple theoutput interfaces 112 a and 112 b of the charging device 100 to theinput interfaces 160 a and 160 b of the mobile electronic devices 150 aand 150 b.

The charging device 100 can include one or more user output elementsconfigured to output information to a user. The charging device 100 caninclude a battery charge indicator 114, which can output and indicationof the level of charge that the supplemental battery 102 has. As can beseen in FIG. 4, the battery charge indicator can include a plurality oflights (e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs)), which can illuminate toprovide battery charge level information to the user. For example, insome embodiments four light sources can be used, and one illuminatedlight can indicate that the supplemental battery 102 is about 25%charged, two illuminated lights can indicate that the supplementalbattery 102 is about 50% charged, three illuminated lights can indicatethat the supplemental battery 102 is about 75% charged, and fourilluminated lights can indicate that the supplemental battery 102 isabout 100% charged. Many variations are possible. More light sources canbe used to provide additional precision. In some embodiments, differentcolors can be used to indicate different charge levels, or a displayscreen can display an indication of the charge level (e.g., as a numbersuch as 60% or as a progress bar).

The charging device 100 can include one or more user input elements 116.In some implementations, the one or more user input elements 116 andoutput elements (such as the battery charge indicator 116) can beimplemented into a single component (e.g., a touchscreen display). Insome embodiments, the user input elements 116 can include one or morebutton, switches, etc., as discussed herein. A user input element 116(e.g., a button or other suitable type of user input element) can beused to activate the battery charge indicator 114. For example, a usercan push a button to illuminate the light sources of the battery chargeindicator 114. In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can includea user input element 116 for controlling the charging performed by thecharging device 100. For example, a user can toggle a switch (not shown)to an active position to cause the charging device 100 to outputelectrical power (e.g., to the mobile electronic device) via the outputinterface 112. The user can toggle the switch to an inactive position tostop charging. This feature can be particularly advantageous forcharging devices that are designed to remain attached to the mobileelectronic device when not charging (see, for example, FIGS. 2 and 3).Many variations are possible. The charging can be started and stopped byusing one or more buttons instead of a switch. The user input elements116 (e.g., a switch or button) can be used to control the charging ofthe supplemental battery 102.

The controller 104 of the charging device 100 can be configured tocontrol various functions of the charging device 100, as discussedherein, such as modifying the voltage of the power that is output by thecharging device 100, interrogating the external power source 180 todetermine the capacity of the external power source 180, allocatingpower from the external power supply to various tasks (e.g., tosimultaneous pass-through charging of the mobile electronic device 150and charging of the supplemental battery 102), temperature monitoringand associated adjustments, etc. The controller 104 can include one ormore processors (e.g., one or more general purpose processors and/or oneor more specific application processors) and/or other electricalcomponents (e.g., sensors, switches, voltage modifiers, etc.) thatoperate to control aspects of the charging device 100.

In various embodiments, the charging device 100 can enable communicationof data between the input interface 110 and the output interface 112.For example, a data communication line can extend between the inputinterface 110 and the output interface 112. Data can be passed throughthe charging device 100 (e.g., for syncing the mobile electronic device150 with an external electronic device such as a computer). The chargingdevice 100 can receive information from the mobile electronic device 150via the interfaces 160 and 112. The charging device 100 can transfer thedata to the input interface 110, where the data can be transmitted to anexternal electronic device (e.g., a computer). Similarly, the inputinterface 110 can receive data from an external electronic device (e.g.,a computer), and the charging device 100 can transmit the data to theoutput interface 112 such that the data is communicated to the mobileelectronic device 150 (e.g., via the input interface 160). Accordingly,the charging device 100 can enable the mobile electronic device 150 tosend data to and/or receive data from an external electronic device thatis coupled to the charging device 100 (e.g., via the input interface110), and in many implementations without a direct data connectionbetween the mobile electronic device 150 and the external electronicdevice.

In some cases, the information received from the mobile electronicdevice 150 can be transmitted to the controller 104, and the informationcan be used by the controller 104 to operate the charging device 100.For example, the mobile electronic device 150 can send information tothe charging device 100 indicating that the mobile electronic device 150is fully charged and in response to that information the controller 104can stop sending electrical charge to the mobile electronic device 150.By way of another example, the mobile electronic device 150 can sendinformation to the charging device 100 regarding the range of voltageaccepted by the mobile electronic device 150, regarding the limits ofelectrical current for the mobile electronic device 150, regarding adevice identifier that is configured to inform the charging device 100of what type of device is coupled to the output interface 112. Thecontroller 104 can use the information to deliver the appropriateelectrical output to the mobile electronic device 150.

In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can deliver informationreceived from an external electronic device (e.g., via the inputinterface 110) to the controller 104, and the controller 104 can use theinformation to control operation of the charging device 100. Forexample, the input interface 110 can receive information regarding thetype of the external electronic device and/or the type of connection(e.g., USB 2.0, USB 3.0, etc.), and the controller 104 can controloperation of the charging device 100 based at least in part on theinformation received. Many variations are possible. For example, in someembodiments, the charging device 100 can send and receive data fromdifferent interfaces than the interfaces used to send and receiveelectrical energy for charging batteries.

With reference to FIG. 1, the charging device 100 can be capable ofinterrogating the power source 180 to determine the maximum power outputof the power source 180 by using the disclosed methods. Sometimes, thecharging device 100 can have a variety of input connection types thatsupport different types of electrical connectors 182. For example, thecharging device might support USB 2.0, USB 3.0, lightning, micro-USB,mini-USB, and other connections of various power capacities. If thepower source 180 is coupled to the charging device 100 through aninterface that supports power negotiation, which can include determiningthe maximum power output as described herein, and which can also includeusing established protocols to agree on a certain capacity of powerdelivery, then in some instances the charging device can negotiate forthe greatest amount of power.

The charging device 100 can sometimes be connected through outputinterface 112 to an electronic device 150. The electronic device mightsupport a variety of connection types at the output interface 112. Theelectronic device can also support a variety of compatible connectiontypes with the output interface 112.

Sometimes, the power source 180 and charging device 100 may support aconnection type capable of transferring a large amount of current, suchas 1 A, 1.5 A, 2.1 A, 2.4 A, 3.0 A, 5.0 A, or more. Sometimes, thecharging device 100 can be coupled to a power source 180 capable ofproviding a high wattage of power, like 5 W, 10 W, 12 W, 18 W, 20 W, 30W, 50 W, 100 W, or more. In some embodiments, the power source 180 canbe configured to output multiple power levels depending on the amount ofpower requested. In some instances, the charging device 100 and/or theelectronic device 150 can negotiate with the power source 180 todetermine how much power will be output by the power source 180. In someimplementations, the power source 180 can be configured to output anamount of current at different voltage levels (e.g., 5V, 9V, 12V, or20V) to output different amounts of power. The charging device 100 canbe configured to negotiate with the power source 180 to request theappropriate amount of power from the power source 180 for use by thecharging device 100. In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can becoupled to an electronic device 150 that is capable of negotiating withthe power source 180 to select the appropriate power level for theelectronic device 150. If the charging device 100 does not requirepower, e.g., if the supplemental battery 102 of the charging device 100,is fully charged, the charging device 100 can be configured to merelyrelay the negotiation signals between the electronic device 150 and thepower source 180. If the charging device 100 has its own powerrequirements, e.g., if the supplemental battery is not fully charged,the charging device 100 can negotiate with the electronic device 150 todetermine the amount of power appropriate for the electronic device 150,and the charging device can negotiate with the power source 180 torequest more power than what is appropriate for the electronic device150. The charging device 100 can relay the appropriate power to theelectronic device 150 and can use the additional electrical power itself(e.g., for charging the supplemental battery 102). If the electronicdevice 150 is not capable of negotiating for different power levels, thecharging device 100 can still perform the negotiation with the powersource 180 to request more power than needed by the electronic device150, so that the charging device 100 can use the excess power (e.g., forcharging the supplemental battery 102).

Sometimes, the electronic device 150 might not have a connection typethat is capable of handling the full current or wattage provided by thepower source 180.

For example, if the electronic device supports a USB 2.0 interface andthe power source 180 supports a USB 3.0 interface, the electronic device150 may not be capably of requesting the full amount of power that couldbe provided from the power source 180. In this example, the chargingdevice 100 can act as a middleman and utilize the full power availablefrom the power source. The charging device 100 can couple to the powersource 180 over a first, higher power interface (e.g., a USB 3.0interface), request more power from the power source 180 than theelectronic device 150 is configured to use (e.g., the full powerprovided by the USB 3.0 specification), charge the electronic device 150over a second, lower power interface (e.g., at the maximum charging ratesupported by the electronic device 150 such as using USB 2.0 interface),and then charge the supplemental battery 102 with any excess power.

As another example, an electronic device 150 might be configured tocharge with only 5 Watts (W) when connected to a power source 180, evenif the power source 180 can provide 10 W. In this example, the chargingdevice 100 can act as a middleman and negotiate to receive more than 5 W(e.g., the full amount of power, such as 10 W, that could be provided bythe power source 180). The charging device 100 can couple to the powersource 180 and interrogate it to receive the full 10 W of power, chargethe electronic device 150 with the maximum power that the electronicdevice 150 can support (e.g., 5 W), and divert any excess power tocharge the supplemental battery 102, such as up to 100 W per USB-PD (USBPower Delivery), or greater.

The charging device 100 can be configured to prioritize charging theelectronic device 150 with any power that it receives from the powersource 180. In some embodiments, the electronic device 150 can beconfigured to couple the power source 180 to the electronic device 150when the power source 180 and the electronic device 150 supportinterfaces that maximize the transfer of power. For example, if theelectronic device 150 is configured to use the full power capacity ofthe power source 180, the charging device 100 can be configured to passthe full amount of electrical power received from the power source 180to the electronic device 150.

With reference now to FIG. 5 a, in some embodiments, the charging device100 can include a charging electrical pathway from the input interface110 to the supplemental battery 102. In FIG. 5 a, the chargingelectrical pathway can extend from the input interface 110, through theswitch 118, through the voltage modifier 120, to the supplementalbattery 102. The voltage modifier 120 can adjust the voltage to anappropriate voltage level for charging the supplemental battery 102. Insome embodiments, the input voltage at the input interface 110 can behigher than the voltage that the supplemental battery 102 is configuredto receive (e.g., above an upper threshold voltage), and the voltagemodifier 120 can be configured to reduce or “buck” the voltage down tothe appropriate level, although the voltage modifier 120 can beconfigured to raise or “boost” the voltage if the input voltage is lowerthan the voltage that the supplemental battery 102 is configured toreceive (e.g., below a lower threshold voltage). The switch 118 can beclosed to direct electrical charge along the charging electrical pathway(e.g., to charge the supplemental battery 102), and the switch 118 canbe opened to disrupt the charging electrical pathway (e.g., so that thesupplemental battery 102 is not charged).

The charging device 100 can include a discharge electrical pathway fromthe supplemental battery 102 to the output interface 112, which can beused when the supplemental battery 102 is delivering charge to themobile electronic device 150. The discharge electrical pathway canextend from the supplemental battery 102, through the switch 122,through the voltage modifier 124, to the output interface 112. Thevoltage modifier 124 can adjust the voltage to an appropriate voltagelevel for the mobile electronic device 150. In some embodiments, thesupplemental battery 102 can be configured to output a voltage that islower than the voltage used by the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g.,below a lower threshold voltage), and the voltage modifier 124 can beconfigured to raise “boost” the voltage up to the appropriate level,although the voltage modifier 124 can be configured to reduce or “buck”the voltage if the voltage output by the supplemental battery 102 ishigher than the voltage that the mobile electronic device 150 isconfigured to receive (e.g., above an upper threshold voltage). Theswitch 122 can be closed to direct electrical charge along the dischargeelectrical pathway (e.g., to charge the mobile electronic device 150using the supplemental battery 102), and the switch 120 can be opened todisrupt the discharge electrical pathway (e.g., so that the supplementalbattery 102 is not used to charge the mobile electronic device 150).

The charging device 100 can include a bypass electrical pathway from theinput interface 110 to the output interface 112, which can be used torelay electrical charge from the external power source 180, through thecharging device 100, to the mobile electronic device 150. The bypasselectrical pathway can extend from the input interface 110, through theswitch 126, through the voltage modifier 124, to the output interface112. In some embodiments, the bypass electrical pathway does not gothrough, or otherwise include, the supplemental battery 102. The voltagemodifier 124 can adjust the voltage to an appropriate voltage level forthe mobile electronic device 150. In some embodiments, the dischargeelectrical pathway and the bypass electrical pathway can both use thesame voltage modifier 124 (e.g., the same boost converter or voltageregulator), although the bypass electrical pathway can use a differentvoltage modifier than the discharge electrical pathway. In somecircumstances, the voltage on the bypass electrical pathway can bedifferent than the voltage used by the mobile electronic device 150. Forexample, the wrong external power source 180 might be used, the externalpower source 180 might malfunction, or the voltage might drop due to theelectrical cable 184 and/or due to electrical components of the chargingdevice 100. The voltage modifier 124 can be configured to raise “boost”the voltage up to the appropriate level if the voltage on the bypasselectrical pathway is lower than the voltage used by the mobileelectronic device 150 (e.g., below a lower threshold voltage), althoughthe voltage modifier 124 can be configured to reduce or “buck” thevoltage if the voltage on the bypass electrical pathway is higher thanthe voltage that the mobile electronic device 150 is configured toreceive (e.g., above an upper threshold voltage). The switch 126 can beclosed to direct electrical charge along the bypass electrical pathway(e.g., to charge the mobile electronic device 150 using the externalpower source 180 and bypassing the supplemental battery 102), and theswitch 126 can be opened to disrupt the bypass electrical pathway (e.g.,so that electrical power input through the input interfaced 110 is notpassed through to charge the mobile electronic device 150).

The voltage modifier 120 and/or the voltage modifier 124 (and the othervoltage modifiers discussed herein) can include a boost converters, buckconverters, voltage regulators, etc. In some embodiments, the voltagemodifiers discussed herein can include an inductor. In some embodiments,the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter) and the voltagemodifier 124 (e.g., the boost converter) can utilize the same inductor.In some embodiments, different inductors can be used by the voltagemodifier 120 and the voltage modifier 124, which can facilitate thesimultaneous charging of the supplemental battery 102 and the mobileelectronic device 150. Using two different inductors for the voltagemodifiers 120 and 124 can facilitate boosting the voltage (e.g., usingthe voltage modifier 124) and bucking the voltage (e.g., using thevoltage modifier 120) at the same time.

By way of example, in some implementations, a mobile electronic device150 (e.g., a smart phone) can be configured to receive electrical powerat 5 volts, and can be configured to accept only voltages of plus orminus 5% from 5 volts (i.e., 4.75 volts to 5.25 volts). An externalpower source 180 (e.g., a wall charger that is plugged into anelectrical power outlet) can output a voltage at 5 volts. An electricalcable 184 can couple the external power source 180 to the chargingdevice 100, and the electrical cable 184 can have resistance thatresults in a voltage drop to 4.8 volts. The transition through theelectrical connector 184 and the input interface 110 and the otherelectrical components of the charging device 10 can result in a furthervoltage drop to 4.7 volts, which is below the lower threshold voltage of4.75 volts. Accordingly, if the electrical charge from the externalpower source 180 were merely passed through the charging device 100 tothe mobile electronic device 150, the voltage would be rejected by themobile electronic device 150. The voltage modifier 124 (e.g., a boostconverter) can be configured to boost the voltage to a voltage levelbetween 4.75 volts and 5.25 volts (e.g., to 5 volts or 5.2 volts). Thecharging device 100 can deliver the boosted voltage to the mobileelectronic device 150 via the output interface 112.

In some embodiments, the voltage modifier 124 can boost the voltage toabout the ideal voltage value for the mobile electronic device 150(e.g., 5 volts in the above example), while in some embodiments, thevoltage modifier 124 can boost the voltage to a voltage that is abovethe ideal voltage value, in order to compensate for further voltagedrops that can occur after the voltage boost (e.g., voltage drop due tothe transition from the output interface 112 to the input interface 160of the mobile electronic device and/or due to an electrical cable (notshown) extending between the charging device 100 and the mobileelectronic device 150). For example, the voltage modifier 124 can boostthe voltage to a value between the ideal voltage and the upper thresholdvoltage value for the mobile electronic device 150. The voltage modifier124 can boost the voltage to a value that is in the upper 50% of therange between the lower voltage threshold and the upper voltagethreshold (e.g., between 5 volts and 5.25 volts), or between about 60%and about 95% of the range between the lower voltage threshold and theupper voltage threshold, or between about 70% and about 90% of the rangebetween the lower voltage threshold and the upper voltage threshold(e.g., between about 5.1 volts and 5.2 volts in the above example), orbetween about 60% and about 80% of the range between the lower voltagethreshold and the upper voltage threshold, although values outside theseranges can be used in some implementations.

In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can be configured to passthrough the electrical charge along the bypass electrical pathway if thevoltage is between the upper and lower threshold voltage values (e.g.,between 4.75 volts and 5.25 volts in the above example) withoutmodifying the voltage. In some embodiments, the charging device 100 willuse the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., boost converter) to boost thevoltage if the voltage is above the lower threshold value by only asmall amount, which can compensate for later voltage drops from theoutput interface 112 or an electrical cable between the charging device100 and the mobile electronic device 150. For example, if the voltage isover the lower threshold voltage by a value of about 0.3 volts or less,about 0.2 volts or less, or about 0.1 volts or less, or about 0.05 voltsor less, the charging device 100 can boost the voltage (e.g., using thevoltage modifier 124). By way of example, the charging device can passthrough voltages between 4.8 volts and 5.25 volts without modifying thevoltage, and can boost voltages below 4.8 volts, even though the mobileelectronic device accepts voltages down to 4.75 volts. In someembodiments, the charging device 100 will use the voltage modifier 124(e.g., boost converter) to boost the voltage if the voltage is below theideal voltage for the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., 5 volts in theabove example), is in the lower about 50% of the acceptable voltagerange, is in the lower about 60% of the acceptable voltage range, or isin the lower about 70% of the acceptable voltage range (e.g., less thanabout 5.1 volts in the above example), although values outside theseranges can also be used.

In some embodiments, a switch (not shown in FIG. 5 a) can be closed toenable the bypass electrical pathway to avoid the voltage modifier 124when no voltage modification is needed (e.g., when the input voltage isbetween 4.8 volts and 5.25 volts). For example, if no voltagemodification is to be performed, the input interface 110 can be directlyelectrically coupled to the output interface 112 to provide the bypasselectrical pathway. In some embodiments, if no voltage modification isneeded, the electricity can still be routed through the voltage modifier124. The voltage modifier 124 can be configured to pass the electricalcharge through without modifying the voltage when the voltage is alreadyat an acceptable value (e.g., between 4.8 volts and 5.25 volts).

In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can include one or morevoltage sensors (not shown), which can be configured to measure thevoltage at one or more locations (e.g., at the input interface 110, atthe voltage modifier 120, at the voltage modifier 124, and/or at thebattery 102). In some embodiments, the controller 104 can receivevoltage information (e.g., from the one or more voltage sensors) and cancontrol the charging device 100 based at least in part on the voltageinformation. For example, the controller 104 can actuate switches todirect electrical charge. For example, in the input voltage is alreadywithin an appropriate range for the mobile electronic device 150, thecontroller 104 can actuate a switch to bypass the voltage modifier 124.In some embodiments, one or both of the voltage modifiers 120 and 124can receive voltage information (e.g., from the one or more voltagesensors) and can use the voltage information to control the amount ofvoltage change applied by the voltage modifiers 120 and 124. In someembodiments, one or both of the voltage modifiers 120 and 124 can use avoltage feedback loop. The controller 104 can direct electrical power(e.g., by actuating switches 118, 122, and/or 126) along a singleelectrical pathway (e.g., along the discharge electrical pathway tocharge the mobile electronic device 150 from the supplemental battery102) and/or along multiple electrical pathways simultaneously. Forexample, the charging device 100 can direct electrical power along thebypass electrical pathway and the charging electrical pathway to chargeboth the mobile electronic device 150 and the supplemental battery 102at the same time. In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can usethe bypass electrical pathway to charge the mobile electronic device150, and can use the discharge electrical pathway at the same time toincrease the amount of current that is output to the mobile electronicdevice 150 (e.g., if the current output using the bypass electricalpathway is below the charging current that is accepted by the mobileelectronic device 150). In various embodiments, the charging device 100can monitor the input current (e.g., received by the input interface),the charging current (ICHG) (e.g., delivered to the supplementalbattery), and/or the output current (e.g., delivered to the outputinterface 112), such as by using one or more integrated sense amplifiersand/or one or more analog-to-digital converters.

With reference to FIG. 5 b, in some embodiments, the charging device 100can include a charging electrical pathway from the input interface 110to the supplemental battery 102. In FIG. 5 b, the charging electricalpathway can extend from the input interface 110, through the switch 118,through the voltage modifier 120 (which can be a boost converter, a buckconverter, a voltage regulator, etc.), to the supplemental battery 102.The boost converter, which can be used as the voltage modifier 120, canincrease the voltage to an appropriate voltage level for charging thesupplemental battery 102. The buck converter, which can be used as thevoltage modifier 120, can decrease the voltage to an appropriate voltagelevel for charging the supplemental battery 102.

In some embodiments, the voltage that the supplemental battery 102 isconfigured to receive (e.g., 9V) is greater than the voltage that theoutput interface 112 is configured to receive (e.g., 5.1V), and/or thevoltage supplied by the power source 180 (not shown in FIG. 5 b) at theinput interface 110 can be lower than the voltage that the supplementalbattery 102 is configured to receive. In some embodiments, the battery102 can include multiple battery cells, which can be coupled in seriesor in parallel. The voltage modifier 120 (e.g., a boost converter) canbe configured to increase or “boost” the voltage received from the inputinterface 110 up to the appropriate voltage level for charging thesupplemental battery 102 (e.g., which can include multiple battery cellsin series). A controller 104 (not shown in FIG. 5 b) can close theswitch 118, and can open one or more switches 123, 125, and/or 126 whenthe voltage receive at the input interface 110 is lower than the voltageused to charge the supplemental battery 102 such that a boost converterraises the voltage, as discussed herein.

In some embodiments, the voltage received at the input interface 110 ishigher than the voltage that supplemental battery 102 is configured toreceive (e.g., for charging the supplemental battery 102). The voltagemodifier 120 (e.g., a buck converter) can reduce or “buck” the voltagereceived from the input interface 110 down to the appropriate level forcharging the supplemental battery 102. A controller 104 (not shown inFIG. 5 b) can close the switch 118, and can open one or more switches123, 125, and/or 126 when the voltage receive at the input interface 110is higher than the voltage used to charge the supplemental battery 102such that a buck converter lowers the voltage, as discussed herein.

In some embodiments, the voltage supplied by the power source 180 (notshown in FIG. 5 b) at the input interface 110 can be at an acceptablelevel or within an acceptable voltage range for charging thesupplemental battery 102. An electrical pathway or circuit can bypassthe voltage modifier 120 and can couple the power supplied at the inputinterface 110 to the battery 102 without the voltage modifier 120. Acontroller 104 (not shown in FIG. 5 b) can close the switch 123 and canopen one or more switches 118, 126, and/or 125 when the voltage receivedfrom the input interface 110 is at an acceptable level for charging thesupplemental battery 102.

The charging device 100 can include a discharge electrical pathway fromthe supplemental battery 102 to the output interface 112, which can beused when the supplemental battery 102 is delivering charge to themobile electronic device 150. The discharge electrical pathway canextend from the supplemental battery 102, through the switch 122,through the voltage modifier 124 (which can be a boost converter, a buckconverter, a voltage regulator, etc.), to the output interface 112. Thebuck converter can reduce the voltage to an appropriate voltage levelfor the mobile electronic device 150. The boost converter can raise thevoltage to an appropriate voltage level for the mobile electronic device150. In some implementations, an electrical pathway or circuit canbypass the voltage modifier 124 and can couple the supplemental battery102 to the output interface 112 without the voltage modifier 124 (e.g.,by the controller 104 closing switch 121 and opening switch 122), suchas when the supplemental battery 102 is configured to output a voltagethat is at an appropriate level for the electronic device 150.

In some implementations, the charging device 100 can include anelectrical pathway or circuit from the input interface 110, through theswitch 126, through the voltage modifier 124, to the output interface112. This electrical pathway or circuit can be used to direct electricalpower from the input interface 110 (e.g., received from the power supply180) to the output interface 112 (e.g., to the electronic device 150)without going through the battery 102. The charging device 100 caninclude a boost converter as the voltage modifier 124, such that thesystem can increase the voltage if the voltage received from the inputinterface 110 is lower than the voltage appropriate to deliver to theelectronic device 150. The charging device 100 can include a buckconverter as the voltage modifier 124, such that the system can decreasethe voltage if the voltage received from the input interface 110 ishigher than the voltage appropriate to deliver to the electronic device150. The controller 104 can close switch 126 and can open one or moreother switches 118, 123, and/or 125 to deliver electrical power from theinput interface 110, through the voltage modifier 124, to the outputinterface 112.

In some implementations, the charging device 100 can include anelectrical pathway or circuit from the input interface 110, through theswitch 125, to the output interface 112, which can deliver electricalcharge from the input interface 110 to the output interface 112 withoutgoing through the supplemental battery 102, the voltage modifier 120, orthe voltage modifier 124. For example, if the voltage received from theinput interface 110 is the appropriate voltage level to provide to theelectronic device 150, the controller 104 can close the switch 125 andcan open one or more other switches 118, 123, 125, and/or 126 (e.g., todirect electrical power directly form the input interface 110 to theoutput interface 112).

As discussed herein, the controller 104 (not shown in FIG. 5 b) can openand close various switches 118, 121, 122, 123, 125, and 126 to directelectrical power along various different electrical pathways in thecharging device 100. The controller 104 can control the switches basedon voltage levels, which can be measured using on or more voltagesensors (not shown in FIG. 5 b), which can be positioned to measurevoltages at various positions, as discussed herein. In some embodiments,multiple switches shown herein can be combined using a single switch.For example, one or more of the switches 118, 123, 125, and 126 can becombined using a multi-way switch. Similarly, switches 122 and 121 canbe combined using a multi-way switch. Many variations are possible. Forexample, various electrical pathways or circuits in FIG. 5 b can beomitted to form various combinations and sub-combinations of theelectrical pathways or circuits discussed herein. Additional electricalpathways or circuits can be included. For example, an electrical pathwayor circuit can extend from the voltage modifier 120 to the voltagemodifier 124, and a switch can be positioned to control that electricalpathway or circuit. Accordingly, in some instances, the voltage receivedfrom the input interface 110 can be first modified by the voltagemodifier 120 (e.g., raised if the voltage modifier 120 is a boostconverter or reduced if the voltage modifier is a buck converter) andthat modified voltage can then be modified a second time by the voltagemodifier 124 (e.g., raised if the voltage modifier 120 is a boostconverter or reduced if the voltage modifier is a buck converter) andthe second modified voltage can be provided to the output interface 112(e.g., for delivery to the electronic device 150).

With reference to FIG. 6, the charging electrical pathway can extendfrom the input interface 110, through the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., abuck converter), through a battery field-effect transistor (BATFET) 130,to the battery 102. The BATFET 130 can receive input from a batterycurrent controller (IBAT Control) 132, which can be based at least inpart on the output current (IOUT) and/or the charge current (ICHG). Insome embodiment, the BATFET 130 and/or IBAT Control 132 can beconfigured to impede overcharging of the battery 102 (e.g., by limitingor stopping the current delivered to the battery).

In the example embodiment of FIG. 6, the discharge electrical pathwaycan extend from the battery 102, through the switch 128, through thevoltage modifier 124 (e.g., a boost converter), to the output interface112. The bypass electrical pathway can extend from the input interface110, through the switch 128, through the voltage modifier 124 (e.g.,boost converter), to the output interface 112. The switch 128 cancontrol flow of electricity through both the discharge electricalpathway and the bypass electrical pathway. The switch 128 can toggle theinput to the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., a boost converter) between theinput interface 110 (for the bypass electrical pathway) and the battery102 (for the discharge electrical pathway). In some embodiments, asingle switch (e.g., switch 128 of FIG. 6) can be used in place of theswitches 126 and 122 of FIG. 5. In some embodiments, a single switch canbe used in place of the two switches 118 and 126 of FIG. 5. Withreference to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, a switch (not shown in FIG. 6)can be positioned in the charging electrical pathway. With referenceagain to FIG. 5, a bypass switch 126 can be positioned between the inputinterface 110 and the output interface 112 (e.g., on the bypasselectrical pathway), and a charging switch 118 can be positioned betweenthe input interface 110 and the supplemental battery 102 (e.g., on thecharging electrical pathway). Electrical charge that is passed throughthe charging device 100 from an external power source 180 to charge themobile electronic device 150 can pass through the bypass switch 126.Electrical charge that is used to charge the supplemental battery 102 ofthe charging device 100 can pass through the charging switch 118. Insome embodiments, the electrical current sent to the supplementalbattery 102 does not pass through the bypass switch 126, and/or theelectrical current that is routed from the input interface 110 to theoutput interface 112 does not pass through the charging switch 118.Using the two switches 118 and 126, as shown in FIG. 5, can enable morethroughput of electrical energy, as compared to an embodiment that usesa single switch for both the bypass electrical pathway and the chargingelectrical pathway, for example, because the embodiment with twoswitches can have a higher thermal limit than the embodiment with asingle switch. Because the charging switch 118 can receive theelectrical current that is delivered to the supplemental battery 102along the charging electrical pathway but not the electrical currentthat is directed along the bypass electrical pathway, and because thebypass switch 126 can receive the electrical current that is directedalong the bypass electrical pathway but not the electrical current thatis delivered to the supplemental battery 102 (e.g., via the chargingelectrical pathway), more electrical current can be used withoutoverloading the switches' 118 and 126 thermal limits, as compared to animplementation in which a single switch receives both the electricalcurrent for the charging electrical pathway and the current for thebypass electrical pathway.

Many of the features and much of the functionality described inconnection with the example embodiment of FIG. 5 applies also to theexample embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and vice versa. By way of example,with reference to FIG. 6, if the voltage received at the input interface110 is within a first range, or above a first threshold, (e.g., betweenabout 5 volts and 5.5 volts), the controller 104 can pass the electricalcharge from the input interface 110 to the output interface 112. In somecases, a switch (not shown in FIG. 6) can be used to connect the inputinterface 110 directly to the output interface 112, bypassing thevoltage modifier 124 (e.g., the boost converter). In some cases, theelectricity can be directed through the voltage modifier 124 withoutchanging the voltage. If the voltage received at the input interface 110is within a second range, or below the first threshold, (e.g., betweenabout 3.9 volts and about 5.0 volts), the controller 104 can operate theswitch 128 to connect the input to the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., theboost converter) to the input interface 110 (e.g., to use bypasselectrical pathway, as discussed herein). The charging device 100 canboost the voltage from the value between about 3.9 volts and 5.0 voltsup to about 5.1 volts using the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., the boostconverter) and can deliver the boosted voltage to the mobile electronicdevice 150 via the output interface 112. If the available current isgreater than the charge current used by the mobile electronic device150, the charging device 100 can be configured to charge thesupplemental battery 102 at the same time. The voltage can be reduced(e.g., from the value between about 3.9 volts and about 5.0 volts) to avoltage value or range that is used by the supplemental battery 102(e.g., between about 3.7 volts and about 4.7 volts) by the voltagemodifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter).

In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can give priority tocharging the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., using the bypasselectrical pathway), such that the charging device 100 will provide themobile electronic device 150 with the full charging current accepted bythe mobile electronic device 150 and will use the surplus current, ifavailable, to charge the supplemental battery 102 (e.g., using thecharging electrical pathway). In some embodiments, the charging devicecan direct larger amounts of current to the supplemental battery 102when no mobile electronic device 150 is coupled to the output interface112 or when the mobile electronic device 150 is fully charged.

When no voltage is available at the input interface (e.g., the chargingdevice 100 is not coupled to an external power source 180), or when thevoltage received at the input interface 110 is within a third range, orbelow a second threshold (e.g., lower than about 3.9 volts), thecharging device 100 can use the supplemental battery 102 to provideelectrical power to the output interface 112 (e.g., using the dischargeelectrical pathway, as discussed herein). The controller 104 can use theswitch 128 to connect the input to the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., theboost converter) to the supplemental battery 102, and the voltageprovided by the supplemental battery 102 can be boosted to about 5.1volts and can be delivered to the output interface 112.

With reference to FIG. 7, in some embodiments the charging device 100can receive a voltage that is higher than the voltage used by thesupplemental battery 102 and higher than the voltage used by the mobileelectronic device 150. The charging electrical pathway can extend fromthe input interface 110, through a switch 134, through a voltagemodifier 120 (e.g., a buck converter), through the BATFET 130, to thesupplemental battery 102. The discharge electrical pathway can extendfrom the supplemental battery 102, through the BATFET 130, through thevoltage modifier 124 (e.g., a boost converter), to the output interface112. The bypass electrical pathway can extend from the input interface110, through the switch 134, through the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., thebuck converter), to the output interface 112. In some embodiments, thebypass electrical pathway can go through the voltage modifier 124 (e.g.,the boost converter) before reaching the output interface 112 (as can beseen in FIG. 7), and in some embodiments, the bypass electrical pathwaydoes not go through the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., the boostconverter). The switch 134 can be provided between the voltage modifier120 (e.g., the buck converter) and the input interface 110 to impedeback feed from the supplemental battery 102 to the input interface 110.

Many of the features and much of the functionality described inconnection with the example embodiment of FIG. 7 applies also to theexample embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and vice versa. By way ofexample, when a voltage is available at the input interface 110 (e.g., arelatively high voltage such as between about 9 volts and about 17volts), an internal switch can be used to route the electrical powerthrough the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter) to theoutput interface 112. The voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buckconverter) can be configured to reduce the voltage to a value that canbe used by the supplemental battery 102 (e.g., between about 3.7 voltsand about 4.5 volts), and the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., a boostconverter) can be configured to then raise the voltage to a value thatis accepted by the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., about 5.1 volts).Many variations are possible, for example, the voltage modifier 120(e.g., the buck converter) can be configured to reduce the voltage to afirst value or range (e.g., about 5.1 volts) when it is used in thebypass electrical pathway to supply electrical charge from the inputinterface 110 to the output interface 112 (e.g., without using thevoltage modifier 124 to boost the voltage), and the voltage modifier 120(e.g., the buck converter) can be configured to reduce the voltage to asecond value or range (e.g., between about 3.7 volts and about 4.5volts) when used in the charging electrical pathway to supply electricalcharge from the input interface 110 to the supplemental battery 102. Forexample, the voltage modifier 120 can include a variable buck converteror the voltage modifier 120 an include two buck converters and at leastone switch controlled by the controller 104 depending on whether thecharging device is used in charging mode, bypass mode, or both. In someembodiments, a switch can be used to direct the electrical charge fromthe input interface 110 to the output interface 112 without goingthrough the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter) or thevoltage modifier 124 (e.g., the boost converter).

When voltage is available at the input interface 110 (e.g., betweenabout 9 volts and about 17 volts), the charging device 100 can use thevoltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter) to reduce the voltage tobe delivered to the supplemental battery 102 (e.g., to between about 3.7volts to about 4.5 volts). In some embodiments, the charging device 100can simultaneously use the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., the boostconverter) to raise the voltage (e.g., the voltage that was previouslyreduced by the voltage modifier 120) to provide the voltage to theoutput interface 112 that is appropriate for the mobile electronicdevice 150 (e.g., about 5.1 volts). Thus, the charging device 100 canreduce the voltage (e.g., from between about 9 volts and about 17 voltsto a value between about 3.7 volts to about 4.5 volts) to charge thesupplemental battery 102, and the charging device 100 can raise thereduced voltage (e.g., from between about 3.7 volts and about 4.5 voltsto a value of about 5.1 volts) to charge the mobile electronic device150. The input to the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., the boost converter)can be the output of the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter120), such as when the charging device operates in bypass mode using thebypass electrical pathway to charge the mobile electronic device 150.

The charging device 100 can give priority to charging the mobileelectronic device 150. For example, in some embodiments, the chargingdevice 100 will charge the supplemental battery 102 if there is leftover current that remains after providing the mobile electronic device150 with the full amount of current accepted by the mobile electronicdevice 150. In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can also chargethe supplemental battery 102 if no mobile electronic device 150 iscoupled to the output interface 112 or if the mobile electronic device150 is fully charged. In some embodiments, if the available current ishigher than the charging current used by the mobile electronic device150, the charging device 100 can use the remaining current to charge thesupplemental battery 102. If the available current is lower than thecharging current used by the mobile electronic device 150, the chargingdevice 100 can provide additional current from the supplemental battery102 to the output interface 112 (e.g., via the discharge electricalpathway).

When no voltage is available at the input interface 110 (e.g., noexternal power source 180 is connected), the charging device 100 canprovide electrical power from the supplemental battery 102 to the outputinterface 112 (e.g., via the discharge electrical pathway). The voltagemodifier 124 (e.g., the boost converter) can raise the voltage providedby the supplemental battery 102 to provide a voltage to the outputinterface 112 that is appropriate for the mobile electronic device 150(e.g., about 5.1 volts).

With reference to FIG. 8, in some embodiments, the charging device 100can be configured to receive voltage that is lower than the batteryvoltage. For example, the charging device 100 can include multiplebatteries 102 a and 102 b, which can be connected in series to increasethe battery voltage (e.g., to about 6 volts to about 9 volts). In someembodiments, the charging device 100 can be configured to receivevoltage between about 3.9 volts and about 5 volts. In some embodiments,the charging device 100 can be configured to receive voltage betweenabout 3 volts and 6 volts. The charging pathway can extend from theinput interface 110, through the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., a boostconverter), through the BATFET 130, to the two or more batteries 102 aand 102 b. The discharge electrical pathway can extend from the two ormore batteries 102 a and 102 b, through the voltage modifier 120 (e.g.,a buck converter), and to the output interface 112.

The bypass electrical pathway can be implemented in various manners. Ina first example implementation the bypass electrical pathway can extendfrom the input interface 110, through the voltage modifier 124 (e.g.,the boost converter), through the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buckconverter), to the output interface 112. For example, in someembodiments, the switch 136 and the voltage modifier 138 can be omittedfrom the example embodiment of FIG. 8. By way of example, the voltagemodifier 124 can be configured raise the input voltage (e.g., betweenabout 3.9 volts and about 5 volts) to a battery voltage level (e.g.,between about 6 volts and about 9 volts), and the voltage modifier 120can be configured to lower the voltage from the battery voltage level(e.g., between about 6 volts and about 9 volts) to a voltage level forthe mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., to a voltage of about 5.1volts). Accordingly, in some embodiments disclosed herein the bypasselectrical pathway can both boost and buck the voltage.

In a second example implementation, the bypass electrical pathway canextend from the input interface 110, through the voltage modifier 124(e.g., the boost converter), through the switch 136, to the outputinterface 112. The switch 136 can be used to connect the output of thevoltage modifier 124 (e.g., the boost converter) to the output interface112 without going through the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buckconverter). In some embodiments, the voltage modifier 124 can beconfigured to raise the voltage to a first level that is configured foruse by the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., to about 5.1 volts) whenused in the bypass electrical pathway to charge the mobile electronicdevice 150, and the voltage modifier 124 can be configured to raise thevoltage to a second level that is configured for use by the two or morebatteries 102 a and 102 b (e.g., between about 6 volts and about 9volts) when used in the charging electrical pathway. For example, thevoltage modifier 124 can include a variable boost converter, or thevoltage modifier 124 can include two boost converters and a switch thatis controlled by the controller 104 based on whether the charging device100 is in charging mode (e.g., using the charging electrical pathway tocharge the batteries 102 a and 102 b) or in bypass mode (e.g., using thebypass electrical pathway to charge the mobile electronic device 150).In the second example implementation, the voltage modifier 138 can beomitted.

In a third example implementation, the bypass electrical pathway canextend from the input interface 110, through the voltage modifier 138(e.g., a boost converter), to the output interface 112. The voltagemodifier 138 can be configured to raise the input voltage to a voltagelevel used by the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., to about 5.1volts). The charging device 100 can use the voltage modifier 124 toboost the voltage for charging the two or more batteries 102 a and 102 b(e.g., at between about 6 volts and about 9 volts), and can use thevoltage modifier 138 to boost the voltage for charging the mobileelectronic device (e.g., at about 5.1 volts). The voltage modifier 138can be configured to boost the voltage less than the voltage modifier124. In the third example implementation, the switch 136 can be omitted.

Many of the features and much of the functionality described inconnection with the example embodiment of FIG. 8 applies also to theexample embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 and vice versa. By way ofexample, with reference to FIG. 8, when voltage is available at theinput interface 110, any one of the three bypass electrical pathwaysdescribed above can provide electrical charge to the output interface112, which can be used to charge the mobile electronic device 150. Insome embodiments, the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., the boost converter)can raise the voltage to the battery voltage level (e.g., between about6 volts and about 9 volts) for charging the two or more batteries 102 aand 102 b. The charging device can be configured to charge the mobileelectronic device 150 (e.g., via the bypass electrical pathway) and thetwo or more supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b simultaneously.

The charging device 100 can give priority to charging the mobileelectronic device 150. For example, in some embodiments, the chargingdevice 100 will charge the supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b ifthere is left over current that remains after providing the mobileelectronic device 150 with the full amount of current accepted by themobile electronic device 150. In some embodiments, the charging device100 can also charge the supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b if nomobile electronic device 150 is coupled to the output interface 112 orif the mobile electronic device 150 is fully charged. In someembodiments, if the available current is higher than the chargingcurrent used by the mobile electronic device 150, the charging device100 can use the remaining current to charge the supplemental batteries102 a and 102 b. If the available current is lower than the chargingcurrent used by the mobile electronic device 150, the charging device100 can provide additional current from the supplemental batteries 102 aand 102 b to the output interface 112 (e.g., via the dischargeelectrical pathway).

When no voltage is available at the input interface 110 (e.g., noexternal power source 180 is connected), the charging device 100 canprovide electrical power from the supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 bto the output interface 112 (e.g., via the discharge electricalpathway). The voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter) can lowerthe voltage provided by the supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b toprovide a voltage to the output interface 112 that is appropriate forthe mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., about 5.1 volts).

With reference now to FIG. 9, the bypass electrical pathway can extendfrom the input interface 110, through the switch 140, through thevoltage modifier 120 (e.g., a buck converter), to the output interface112. The charging electrical pathway can extend from the input interface110, through the switch 140, through the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., thebuck converter), through the voltage modifier 124 (e.g., a boostconverter), through the BATFET 130, to the one or more supplementalbatteries 102 a and 102 b. The discharge electrical pathway can extendfrom the one or more supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b, through theswitch 140, through the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter),to the output interface 112.

Many of the features and much of the functionality described inconnection with the example embodiment of FIG. 9 applies also to theexample embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 and vice versa. By way ofexample, the input interface can receive voltage (e.g., between about 9volts and about 17 volts). In some cases, the input voltage can behigher than the voltage used by the one or more batteries 102 a and 102b and/or higher than the voltage used by the mobile electronic device150. When an input voltage is received at the input interface 110, theswitch 140 can connect the input of the voltage modifier 120 (e.g., thebuck converter) to the input interface 110. The voltage modifier 120(e.g., the buck converter) can lower the voltage to a voltage level usedby the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., to about 5.1 volts). Thereduced voltage can be provided to the output interface 112 for chargingthe mobile electronic device 150. In some cases, the voltage modifier124 (e.g., the boost converter) can raise the voltage that was reducedby the voltage modifier 120 up to a voltage level for charging the oneor more supplemental batteries (e.g., up from about 5.1 volts to betweenabout 6 volts and about 9 volts). Accordingly, in some embodiments, thecharging electrical pathway can both buck and boost the voltage betweenthe input interface 110 and the one or more batteries 102 a and 102 b.

The charging device 100 can give priority to charging the mobileelectronic device 150. For example, in some embodiments, the chargingdevice 100 will charge the one or more supplemental batteries 102 a and102 b if there is left over current that remains after providing themobile electronic device 150 with the full amount of current accepted bythe mobile electronic device 150. In some embodiments, the chargingdevice 100 can also charge the one or more supplemental batteries 102 aand 102 b if no mobile electronic device 150 is coupled to the outputinterface 112 or if the mobile electronic device 150 is fully charged.In some embodiments, if the available current is higher than thecharging current used by the mobile electronic device 150, the chargingdevice 100 can use the remaining current to charge the one or moresupplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b. In some embodiments, if theavailable current is lower than the charging current used by the mobileelectronic device 150, the charging device 100 can provide additionalcurrent from the supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b to the outputinterface 112 (e.g., via the discharge electrical pathway). For example,the switch 140 can be configured to provide input to the voltagemodifier 120 from both the input interface 110 (bypass mode) and the oneor more supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b (discharge mode), and insome implementations, the voltage modifier 120 can include multiple buckconverters to accommodate input from both the input interface 110 andthe one or more supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b.

When no voltage is available at the input interface 110 (e.g., noexternal power source 180 is connected), the charging device 100 canprovide electrical power from the one or more supplemental batteries 102a and 102 b to the output interface 112 (e.g., via the dischargeelectrical pathway). The voltage modifier 120 (e.g., the buck converter)can lower the voltage provided by the one or more supplemental batteries102 a and 102 b to provide a voltage to the output interface 112 that isappropriate for the mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., about 5.1volts).

Many variations are possible. For example, embodiments shown ordescribed as having a single supplemental battery 102 can insteadinclude multiple supplemental batteries, and embodiments showingmultiple supplemental batteries 102 a and 102 b can instead us a singlesupplemental battery. In some embodiments, the charging devices 100shown and described can include multiple output interfaces 112 forcharging multiple mobile electronic devices (e.g., as shown, forexample, in FIG. 4).

In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can be configured todetermine the electrical power capacity of the external power source180, as discussed herein. The power capacity information can be storedin the memory 106 and/or used by the controller 104 to operate thecharging device 100. For example, the controller 104 can use the powercapacity information to determine how much current to provide to themobile electronic device 150 (e.g., via the bypass electrical pathway)and/or how much current to provide to the supplemental battery 102(e.g., via the charging electrical pathway). In some embodiments, thecharging device 100 can be configured to determine the electrical powercapacity of the external power source 180 from one or more bias voltagesoutput by the external power source 180 (e.g., from the D+ and/or D−lines). In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can be configuredto empirically determine the electrical power capacity of the externalpower source 180.

FIG. 9 a is a flowchart of an example embodiment of a method 800 formanaging power in the charging device 100. This method 800 can be usedwhen the output voltage to an electronic device 150 requires a highervoltage than what the supplemental battery 102 provides. For example,the electronic device 150 might require 5.1 V, and the supplementalbattery 102 might output a voltage of 4.5 V.

The method can start at block 802. At block 804, input power isreceived. At block 806, a determination can be made if the input voltageexceeds a minimum threshold, for example, 3.5 V. If the input voltage isless than the minimum threshold voltage, then at block 808, asupplemental battery 102 can provide power through a boost converter. Atblock 810, the boosted power can be delivered to electronic device 150.

If the input voltage exceeds the minimum threshold, at block 812, it canbe determined whether the input power is within a low range, such asbetween 3.5V to 4.8 V. If the input voltage falls within that range,then the input power can be boosted using power from the supplementalbattery 102 at block 814. At block 816, the boosted power can bedelivered to the electronic device 150.

If the input voltage does not fall within the low range, then at block816, it can be determined whether or not the input voltage falls withina medium range, such as between 4.8V and 5.3 V. If the input voltagefalls with the medium range, then the input power can be boosted atblock 818. The boosted input power can be delivered to the electronicdevice 150 at block 820. At block 822, it can be determined if anyexcess power remains after the boosted power is delivered to theelectronic device 150. If the electronic device 150 uses all of theboosted power, then no power is used to charge the supplemental battery102 at block 824. If any excess power remains, then at block 826, theexcess power can be bucked down to an appropriate voltage level for thebattery, such as 4.5 V. Then at block 828, the supplemental battery 102can be charged with the excess power.

If the input voltage exceeds the medium range, then an overvoltageproblem can occur. At block 830, the circuit may protect the batteryagainst the excessive input voltage, for example, by isolating the powerinput from the power source 180, or by isolating the battery by openingcircuit switches, or through the use of fuses.

In some embodiments, the steps 806, 812, and 816 can be combined intoone step for determining the input voltage, or can be performed inparallel.

FIG. 9 b is a flowchart of an example embodiment of a method formanaging power. This method 900 can be used when the output voltage toan electronic device 150 requires a lower voltage than what thesupplemental battery 102 provides. For example, the electronic device150 might require 5.1 V, and the supplemental battery 102 might containtwo 4.5 V cells in series, combining for a total voltage of 9 V.

The method can start at block 902. At block 904, input power isreceived. At block 906, a determination can be made if the input voltageexceeds a minimum threshold, for example, 4.5 V. If the input voltage isless than the minimum threshold voltage, then at block 908, asupplemental battery 102 can provide power through a buck converter. Atblock 910, the bucked power can be delivered to electronic device 150.

If the input voltage exceeds the minimum threshold, then at block 912 itcan be determined whether the input power voltage is within a low range,such as between 4.5V to 9 V. If the input voltage falls within the lowrange, then the input power can be boosted through a boost converter atblock 914 to the voltage level of the supplemental battery 102, such as9 V. At block 916, the boosted power can be delivered to thesupplemental battery 102. At block 918, power from the supplementalbattery 102 can then be bucked down to 5.1 V. At block 920, the powercan be delivered at 5.1 V to the electronic device 150.

If the input voltage is not within the low range, then at block 922 itcan be determined whether the input voltage is within a medium range,such as between 9V and 15 V. If the input voltage falls within themedium range, then the input power can be delivered to the supplementalbattery 102 at block 924. From there, power from the supplementalbattery 102 can be bucked down to 5.1 volts at block 918, and then thebucked power can be delivered to the electronic device 150 at block 920.

If the input voltage is not within the medium range, then an overvoltageproblem can occur. At block 926, the circuit may protect the batteryagainst the excessive input voltage, for example, by isolating the powerinput from the power source 180, or by isolating the battery by openingcircuit switches, or through the use of fuses.

In some embodiments, the steps 906, 912, and 922 can be combined intoone step for determining the input voltage, or can be performed inparallel.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of an example embodiment of a method 200 fordetermining the electrical power capacity of a power supply. The method200 can be executed by the charging device 100, and the controller 104can perform several of the functions described in the method 200. Themethod 200 starts at block 202. At block 204, an initial current valuecan be set. At block 206, the charging device 100 can charge thesupplemental battery 102 using the initial level of current (e.g., setat block 104). At block 208, the voltage associated with the currentdelivered to the supplemental battery 102 can be measured. At block 210the controller 104 can determine whether the measured voltage is above athreshold voltage value. A measured voltage above the threshold voltagevalue can indicate that the power supply is capable of providingelectrical power at least equal to the value of the initial electricalcurrent multiplied by the threshold voltage value. The electrical powerP can be defined using the equation P=VI, wherein V is the voltage andwherein I is the electrical current.

When the voltage is above the threshold voltage value (at block 210),the method 200 can proceed to block 212, where the amount of current isincreased. The method 200 can then return to block 206, where thecharging device 100 can try to charge the supplemental battery 102 usingthe increased amount of electrical current. At block 208, the voltageassociated with the increased amount of electrical current can bemeasured, and at block 210 the controller 104 can determine whether themeasured voltage is above the threshold voltage value. If the measuredvoltage at the increased current is still above the threshold voltagevalue, the method 200 can again increase the current at block 212, andthe process can repeat as described above. When the current has beenraised to a value that causes the voltage to drop below the thresholdvalue (at block 210) the method 200 can proceed to block 214, where thecontroller 104 can determine the electrical power capacity of the powersupply. By way of example, the power capacity can be calculated usingthe highest current value that resulted in a voltage that was above thethreshold voltage value. For example, the power capacity P of the powersupply can be determined using P=VI, wherein V is the threshold voltagevalue, and wherein I is the highest current value that resulted in avoltage that was above the threshold voltage value. Many variations arepossible. In some implementations, block 206 can include drawingelectrical current from the power supply without charging thesupplemental battery 102, and various types of variable loads can beused to draw different amounts of current for determining the capacityof the power supply, as described herein. In some embodiments, themethod 200 can increase the current at block 212 by discrete incrementalsteps (e.g., by 50 milliamps or 100 milliamps) or the current can beincreased continuously while the voltage is monitored continuously.

FIG. 14 includes graphs 1400 and 1401 showing an example of effects ofdrawing current from a power source. The graph 1400 shows current drawnfrom the power source 180 along the x-axis and the total power drawnfrom the power source 180 along the y-axis. The graph 1401 shows currentdrawn from the power source 180 along the x-axis and the voltage of thepower drawn from the power source 180 along the y-axis.

As increased current is drawn from the power source 180 through block212, the power supply is capable of providing a power at a steadyvoltage level 1414. As the current increases and steady power isprovided, the total power provided by power source 180 increases (e.g.,at a steady rate) at 1406 according to the formula P=IV. The system candraw additional current as long as the voltage provided by the powersource is above the voltage threshold 1418.

When the power source 180 reaches a maximum power capacity as indicatedby 1410, it cannot provide additional power. To maintain the maximumpower as additional current is drawn from the power source 180, thevoltage output will drop according to the relationship V=Pmax/I, wherePmax is the maximum power capacity of the power source 180, V isvoltage, and I is the current. Accordingly, the voltage output of thepower supply 180 at capacity when drawing increasing amounts of currentis shown by line 1416.

When the voltage output of the power source 180 falls below the voltagethreshold 1418, the power can be determined, either by measuring thepower directly, or by measuring voltage and current and calculatingP=IV. The threshold voltage 1418 can be set at the desired outputvoltage (e.g., the voltage at 1414), or it can be set at a voltage levelbelow the desired voltage output to allow for small voltagefluctuations, as shown in FIG. 14.

With reference to FIG. 10, the charging device 100 can empiricallydetermine the power capacity of an external power source 180 byincrementally increasing the amount of electrical power requested fromthe external power source 180 (e.g., for charging the supplementalbattery 102 at incrementally higher currents), and by monitoring thepower delivered to the charging device 100 from the external powersource 180 to determine when the external power supply is unable tosupply the requested electrical power. When the external power source180 is unable to provide the requested electrical power, thedetermination can be made that the requested electrical power is abovethe capacity of the external power source 180. The output power capacityof the external power source 180 can be determined to be the highestoutput power that was successfully provided by the external power source180 during the interrogation process (e.g., while the requested powerwas incrementally increased as described above).

It should be understood that the determined maximum power capacity ofthe external power source 180 might, in some instances, not be thecomplete maximum power capacity of the power source 180. In someembodiments, the system can be configured to incrementally increase thepower drawn from the power supply, until it goes too far and exceeds thecapacity of the power source, and the system can then scale back theelectrical power by one increment and determine that power level to themaximum power capacity of the power source. Accordingly, in someinstances, the power source might be capable of providing a small amountof additional electrical power above the determined maximum powercapacity (e.g., depending on the amount of incremental power added atblock 212).

By way of example, the charging device 100 can charge the supplementalbattery 102 with a current of 500 milliamps, and the charging device 100can determine whether the supplied voltage is at least 5 volts. If thesupplied voltage is at least 5 volts, the power source 180 is capable ofproviding at least 2.5 watts of electrical power. The charging device100 can then charge the supplemental battery 102 with a current of 600milliamps, and the charging device 100 can determine whether thesupplied voltage is at least 5 volts. If the power source 180 is able toprovide 600 milliamps at 5 volts, the power capacity can be at least 3watts. The process can be repeated using 700 milliamps, 800 milliamps,900 milliamps, etc. The charging device 100 can charge the supplementalbattery 102 using 1000 milliamps from the external power source 180, andcan determine that the supplied voltage is at least 5 volts, which canindicate that the power capacity of the external power source 180 is atleast 5 watts. Then the charging device 100 can try to charge thesupplemental battery 102 at 1100 milliamps, and can determine that thesupplied voltage is lower than 5 volts (the example threshold voltagevalue). This can indicate that the power capacity of the external powersource 180 is below 5.5 watts. In the above example, the controller 104can determine that the power capacity of the external power source 180is 5 watts, because 1000 milliamps was the highest tested current forwhich the external power source 180 was able to supply a voltage of atleast 5 volts (the example threshold voltage value).

In the above example, the charging device 100 is configured to increasethe charging current by increments of 100 milliamps. The chargingcurrent can be increased by increments of various different values suchas about 1 milliamp, about 5 milliamps, about 10 milliamps, about 25milliamps, about 50 milliamps, about 100 milliamps, about 150 milliamps,about 200 milliamps, about 250 milliamps, or any values therebetween.Different increments of charging current can be used for different typesof batteries. For example, batteries with different charge or dischargerates (e.g., C1 vs. C10 vs. C12 rated batteries) can use differentincrements of current. The current increment values provided above can,for example, be used for a 1 amp charger, whereas current incrementvalues could be ten times larger, for example, for a 10 amp charger. Insome embodiments, smaller incremental increases in the current canresult in a more precise determination of the power capacity of thepower source, and larger increments in current can result in fasterpower determinations.

Many variations are possible. For example, in some embodiments, analgorithm can be used to test the power supply at various power levels(e.g., using various current values), which can be above or below thepower capacity level, instead of incrementally raising the current. Forexample, the charging device 100 can charge the supplemental battery 102at 500 milliamps and can determine that the supplied voltage is at least5 volts. The charging device 100 can then to charge the supplementalbattery 102 at 1000 milliamps and can determine that the voltage is atleast 5 volts. The charging device 100 can then try to charge thesupplemental battery 102 at 1500 milliamps and can determine thesupplied voltage is below 5 volts. The charging device 100 can then tryto charge the supplemental battery 102 at 1200 milliamps and candetermine that the voltage is above 5 volts. The charging device canthen try to charge the supplemental battery 102 at 1300 milliamps andcan determine that the supplied voltage is below 5 volts. In the aboveexample, the controller can determine that the power output capacity ofthe power source 180 can be between 6 watts and 6.5 watts. Depending onthe desired level of precision, the charging device 100 can continued toapply the algorithm to try one or more additional current values between1200 milliamps and 1300 milliamps. Once a desired level of precision isobtained, the controller can determine the output electrical powercapacity of the external power supply 180, which can be determined basedin the highest tested level of current that was able to be provided witha voltage of at least 5 volts (which is the example voltage thresholdvalue in this example).

Using an algorithm to test different power levels (e.g., by deliveringdifferent currents to the supplemental battery 102 or to some othervariable load device) can be advantageous over a system that merelyincrementally increases the power level (e.g., by incrementallyincreasing the current delivered to the supplemental battery 102 or tosome other variable load device), because embodiments that utilize analgorithm can, in some instances, produce a more precise power capacitydetermination with fewer test cycles. Many different algorithms can beused to determine how much to increase or decrease the current duringeach test cycle. Generally, the amount that the current is increasedand/or decreased gets smaller as the algorithm narrows down the range ofthe power capacity level. In some embodiments, the algorithm can adjustthe drawn current by analog values (e.g., continuous change to thecurrent). In some embodiments, the algorithm can adjust values atdiscrete increments.

In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can determine a maximumpower capacity of the power supply 180 (e.g., empirically as describedherein) and can draw the maximum amount of power possible from a powersource 180. An electronic device 150 might not be able to utilize themaximum amount of power possible from the power source 180. This canoccur, for example, when the power source 180 is capable of deliveringmore power than the electronic device 150 can support. It can alsooccur, for example, when the power source 180 can deliver a range ofpower outputs and the electronic device 150 cannot negotiate with thepower source 180 to select the optimum power output. In these examples,the charging device 100 can act as a middleman or negotiator to maximizepower draw from the power source 180, deliver power to the electronicdevice 150, and charge the supplemental battery 102 with any excesscurrent.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method 300 fordetermining the power output capacity for an electrical power supply.The method 300 can be similar to, or the same as, the method 200 in someways. The method 300 can start at block 302. At block 304 an initialcurrent value can be set. At block 306, the charging device 100 cancharge the supplemental battery 102 with current supplied by the powersupply at the set current value. At block 308, the voltage associatedwith the current charging the supplemental battery 102 can be measured.At block 310, the controller 104 can determine whether the voltage isabove the threshold voltage value. If the measured voltage is above thethreshold voltage value, the method 300 can increase the current atblock 312, and the method can return to block 306 to repeat the process.If the measured voltage below the threshold value at block 310, thecurrent can be decreased at block 314, and the method 300 can return toblock 306 to repeat the process. The algorithm can start by makingrelatively large changes to the current at blocks 312 and 314, and thealgorithm can reduce the amount that the current is changed at blocks312 and 314 as the process begins to close in on the power capacitylimit of the power source 180. In some embodiments, the method 300 cancheck (at blocks 316 and/or 318) whether sufficient precision has beenreached before proceeding to change the current (at blocks 312 and/or314). If sufficient precision has been achieved (e.g., if the differencebetween the current tested above the threshold voltage level and thecurrent tested below the threshold voltage level is below a thresholdprecision value), the method 300 can proceed to block 320 and thecontroller 104 can determine the power capacity of the power source 180.For example, the power capacity of the power source 180 can bedetermined based on the highest value of current that supplied a voltageover the threshold voltage value. Various levels of precision can beachieved. For example, the methods 200 and/or 300 can be used toidentify the power capacity limit of the power source 180 to withinabout 2 watts, to within about 1 watt, to within about 0.75 watts, towithin about 0.5 watts, to within about 0.25 watts, to within about 0.15watts, to within about 0.1 watts, or any values therebetween.

Many variations are possible. In some embodiments, charging thesupplemental battery 102 can be used as the load to draw electricalpower from the power source 180 (e.g., as discussed in connection withFIGS. 10 and 11). However, in some embodiments, other loads can be usedto empirically determine the power capacity of the power source 180instead of charging the supplemental battery 102. For example, currentcan be delivered to a resistor or other feature in the charging device,instead of to the supplemental battery 102. In some embodiments, thepower capacity of the power source 180 can be tested by boosting and/orbucking the voltage to different test voltage levels (e.g., using one ormore adjustable voltage modifiers), and the current can be monitored todetermine whether the currents supplied at the various test voltages areabove or below a threshold current value.

The charging device 100 can be configured to store the determined powercapacity level of the external power source 180 in the memory 106. Thecontroller 104 can use the power capacity information in operation ofthe charging device 100. For example, the controller 104 can determinehow much current to deliver to the output interface 112 (e.g., from theinput interface 110, along the bypass electrical pathway, for chargingthe mobile electronic device 150) and/or how much current to deliver tothe supplemental battery 102 (e.g., from the input interface 110 andalong the charging electrical pathway) based at least in part on thepower output capacity of the external power source 180. For example, insome embodiments, the charging device 100 can receive electrical powerfrom the external power source 180 at the input interface 110, and thecharging device 100 can deliver a charging current to the outputinterface 112 (e.g., via the bypass electrical pathway). If thecontroller 104 determines that the power capacity of the power source180 is low enough that the charging current is less than the currentcapacity of the mobile electronic device 150, the controller 104 canprovide additional current to the output interface 112 from thesupplemental battery 102 (e.g., via the discharge electrical pathway).If the controller 104 determines that the power capacity of the powersource 180 is high enough that the charging current delivered to theoutput interface 112 from the bypass electrical pathway can be higherthan the current capacity of the mobile electronic device 150, thecontroller 104 can send some or all of the excess current to thesupplemental battery 102 (e.g., via the charging electrical pathway). Insome embodiments, the bypass electrical pathway can be disabled orunused while the charging device 100 performs the empiricalinterrogation of the power source 180.

FIG. 12 is another flowchart 1200 showing an example embodiment of amethod for determining power capacity of a power source. The method 1200can be similar to, and the same as, methods 200 and 300 in some ways.The method 1200 can operate to determine when the power source 180reaches a maximum output capacity by adjusting a variable resistance todraw more and more current from the power source while measuring thechange in the voltage supplied by the power source 180 per change incurrent. The method can then determine a maximum output power based atleast in part on the value of the slope.

The method 1200 can start at block 1202. At block 1204, an initialcurrent is drawn from the power source 180. At block 1206, thesupplemental battery 102 is charged with the initial current drawn fromthe power source 180. At block 1208, the voltage provided by the powersource 180 is measured. At block 1210, the current drawn from the powersource 180 is increased. At block 1212, the new voltage level of thepower source 180 is measured while the increased current is drawn fromthe power source. At block 1214, the slope of the voltage per current isdetermined. For example, the slope can be dV/dI where dV is the changein voltage from block 1208 to block 1212 and dI is the change in currentfrom block 1204 to block 1210. At block 1216, a determination is made ifdV/dI exceeds a threshold slope. In some embodiments, the thresholdslope may be a set number. In some embodiments, the threshold slope maybe defined with reference to a previously measured slope value, forexample, 110% of a previously measured slope value. In some embodiments,the voltage, current, power, and slope can be adjusted in discreteincrements, and in some embodiments, the voltage, current, power, andslope can be adjusted and deterred continuously or as analog values.

If the threshold is not exceeded, then the method returns to block 1210,where the current is increased. Then in block 1212, a new voltage ismeasured. At block 1214, a new value for the slope (e.g., dV/dI) iscalculated (e.g., where dV represents the change in voltage and dIrepresents the change in current). In some embodiments, the change involtage can be from the voltage measured at the previous block 1212 tothe voltage measured at the latest block 1212. In some embodiments, thechange in voltage can be from the voltage measured at block 1208 to thevoltage measured at the latest block 1212. In some embodiments, thechange in current can be the amount of current increased at block 1210.In some embodiments, the change in current can be the amount totalcurrent increased since drawing the initial current at block 1204.

If the threshold is exceeded, then the power capacity is determined atblock 1218. The power capacity can be determined according to theformula P=IV, where I is the amount of current being drawn from thepower source 180, and V is the amount of voltage being provided by thepower source 180. The voltage and current can be the last voltage andcurrent that was drawn from the power source 180 before the thresholdslope was exceeded, the voltage and current drawn from the power source180 that caused the slope to be exceeded, or anywhere in between thosetwo values, for example.

For example, if the method proceeds through blocks 1202, 1204, 1206,1208, 1210, 1212, 1214, and 1216 to determine that the slope exceeds thethreshold slope, then at block 1218, the power capacity can bedetermined based on the initial current drawn at block 1204 and thevoltage measured at block 1208. In another example, if the methodproceeds through blocks 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212, 1214, and1216 to determine that the slope exceeds the threshold slope, then atblock 1218, the power capacity can be determined based on the increasedcurrent drawn at block 1210 and the new voltage measured at block 1212.Alternatively, the power can be determined based a value between thevoltage values used in the two prior examples, the current can bedetermined based on a value between the current values used in the twoprior examples, or the power can be determined to be a value between thepower amounts determined in the two prior examples.

For example, if the method proceeds through blocks 1202, 1204, 1206,1208, 1210, 1212, 1214, 1216, 1210 again, 1212 again, 1214 again, and1216 again to determine that the slope exceeds the threshold slope, thenat block 1218, the power capacity can be determined based on the initialcurrent drawn at block 1210 and the voltage measured at block 1212. Inanother example, if the method proceeds through blocks 1202, 1204, 1206,1208, 1210, 1212, 1214, 1216, 1210 again, 1212 again, 1214 again, and1216 again to determine that the slope exceeds the threshold slope, thenat block 1218, the power capacity can be determined based on the initialcurrent drawn at block 1210 again and the voltage measured at block 1212again. Alternatively, the power can be determined based a value betweenthe voltage values used in the two prior examples, the current can bedetermined based on a value between the current values used in the twoprior examples, or the power can be determined to be a value between thepower amounts determined in the two prior examples.

At block 1220, a percentage of the power capacity of the power source180 is drawn. The percentage can be 100% to maximize power draw at thehighest possible voltage. In other embodiments, the percentage can beless than 100% in order to reduce strain on the power source, or toaccount for small changes in the power output. The power is drawn fromthe power source 180 to charge the supplemental battery 102, theelectronic device 150, or both.

Many variations to the method 1200 of FIG. 12 are possible. For example,in some embodiments, the current is not used to charge the supplementalbattery 102. For example, any variable load device or component can beused to draw different amounts of current to implement the method 1200of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another example embodiment of a method1600 for determining power capacity of an electrical power source 180.The method 1600 can be similar to, or the same as, methods 200, 300, and1200 in some ways. The method 1600 can start at block 1602. At block1604, power can be drawn from the power source 180. At block 1606 thecurrent and voltage of the power drawn from the power source 180 can bemeasured. At block 1608, more current can be drawn from the power source180.

At block 1610, the value of the slope of voltage per current isdetermined, which can be dV/dI, where dV represents the change involtage from block 1604 to block 1608, and dI represents the change incurrent from block 1604 to block 1608. At block 1612, a comparison canbe made to determine if the slope (e.g., dV/dI) is within a thresholdslope limit.

If the measured slope (e.g., dV/dI) is within (e.g., below) thethreshold slope limit, then it can be determined if power capacity canbe calculated with sufficient precision at block 1618 based on theinformation voltage and current output information about the powersource 180 so far. If not, then at block 1620, the current drawn fromthe power source 180 is increased. The blocks 1610 and 1612 can berepeated again, where a new slope (e.g., dV/dI) is measured thataccounts for the newly increased current at 1620. In some embodiments,the new slope dV/dI can be calculated where dV represents the change involtage from when the initial power was drawn at block 1604 to thevoltage level when increased current was drawn at 1620, and dIrepresents the change in current from when power was drawn at block 1604and after increased current was drawn at block 1620. In someembodiments, the new slope dV/dI can be calculated based on the mostrecent measurements of voltage and current, where dV represents thechange in voltage from when more current was drawn at block 1608 to thevoltage level when increased current was drawn at 1620, and dIrepresents the change in current from when power was drawn at block 1608and after increased current was drawn at block 1620. In someembodiments, the two or more new current and voltage values can begenerated and used to determine the new slope (e.g., dV/dI) at block1610.

The loop for measuring the slope (e.g., dV/dI) at block 1610,determining if the measured slope (e.g., dV/dI) is within a thresholdlimit for the slope (e.g., dV/dI) at block 1612, and increasing thecurrent at block 1620 if the measured slope (e.g., dV/dI) is within thelimit for the slope (e.g., dV/dI) or decreasing the current at block1616 if the measured slope (e.g., dV/dI) is above or outside the slopethreshold, can be repeated (e.g., until sufficient precision isobtained). In some embodiments, the most recent measurements of voltageand current will be from block 1616 or 1620 of a previous loop, or newvoltage and current values can be generated for each slopedetermination.

If the measured slope (e.g., dV/dI) is exceeds the threshold limit ofthe slope (e.g., dV/dI), then a determination occurs at block 1614 ifthe power capacity can be calculated with sufficient precision at block1614 based on the information voltage and current output informationabout the power source 180 so far. If not, then at block 1616, thecurrent drawn from the power source 180 is decreased. The blocks atblock 1610 and 1612 can be repeated again, where a new slope (e.g.,dV/dI) is measured that accounts for the newly decreased current at1616. In some embodiments, the new slope (e.g., dV/dI) can be calculatedwhere dV represents the change in voltage from when the initial powerwas drawn at block 1604 to the voltage level when decreased current wasdrawn at 1616, and dI represents the change in current from when powerwas drawn at block 1604 and after decreased current was drawn at block1616. In some embodiments, the new slope (e.g., dV/dI) can be calculatedbased on the most recent measurements of voltage and current, where dVrepresents the change in voltage from when more current was drawn atblock 1608 to the voltage level when decreased current was drawn at1616, and dI represents the change in current from when power was drawnat block 1608 and after decreased current was drawn at block 1616. Insome instances multiple new current and voltage values can be generatedand used to determine the new slope (e.g., dV/dI). The loop formeasuring the slope (e.g., dV/dI) at block 1610, determining if themeasured slope (e.g., dV/dI) is within a threshold limit for the slope(e.g., dV/dI) at block 1612, and decreasing the current at block 1616 ifthe measured slope (e.g., dV/dI) is within the limit for the slope(e.g., dV/dI) or increasing the current at block 1620 if the slope(e.g., dV/dI) is above or outside the slope threshold, can be repeated(e.g., until sufficient precision is reached). In some embodiments, themost recent measurements of voltage and current will be from block 1616or 1620 of a previous loop, or new current and voltage values can begenerated for each slope determination.

The algorithm can start by making relatively large changes to thecurrent at blocks 1616 and 1620, and the algorithm can reduce the amountthat the current is changed at blocks 1616 and 1620 as the processbegins to close in on the power capacity limit of the power source 180.This can increase the precision until the power capacity can becalculated with a sufficient precision.

If sufficiently precise measurements have been taken at either block1614 or block 1618 to enable a sufficiently precise calculation of thepower capacity, then the maximum power of the power source 180 can bedetermined at block 1622 by measuring the power, or by calculating powerby measuring voltage and current, or using the current and voltagevalues used to determine the slope.

In some embodiments, after exceeding the threshold slope limit, thecurrent can be decreased by a small increment, and the slope (e.g.,dV/dI) can be recalculated each time until it falls back within thethreshold slope limit. Then, the current can be increased by an evensmaller amount until the slope (e.g., dV/dI) exceeds the threshold slopelimit again. This process can continue while the amount that the currentis increased and/or decreased gets smaller and smaller as the processnarrows down to the power capacity limit of the power source.

Once the maximum power has been determined, the system can charge thesupplemental battery 102, a battery of the electronic device 150, orboth utilizing the maximum power available (or some percentage thereof)at block 1624. For example, the power supply can deliver deliveringpower at the power capacity at the highest possible voltage for whichthe power source is compatible. In some embodiments, charging thebattery at block 1624 can occur at a percentage of the maximum powercapacity or at a percentage of the highest voltage, where the percentageis less than 100%. This prevents over exerting the power supply at itsmaximum capacity, and/or can account for small variations in the poweroutput from the power source.

In some embodiments, the slope (e.g., dV/dI) is represented as amagnitude. In other embodiments, the slope (e.g., dV/dI) is notcalculated as a magnitude, and the slope (e.g., dV/dI) threshold iscorrespondingly represented to have positive or negative limits. In someembodiments, an actual number is calculated for slope (e.g., dV/dI)and/or the threshold for the slope (e.g., dV/dI), and the comparison atblock 1612 can be made using a numerical comparator. In someembodiments, the slope (e.g., dV/dI) and/or the threshold for the slope(e.g., dV/dI) are not calculated as a number, but instead can berepresented as analog signals, and the comparison at block 1612 can bedetermined using an analog comparator.

The methods shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 16 can be usedseparately, in parallel, or combined in order to interrogate a powersource 180 to determine the actual power capacity, especially when theactual power capacity differs from a manufacturer's stated powercapacity. Each method can yield a slightly different result from theother methods, and a final determination of the power capacity can bebased on one or more of the different results.

FIG. 15 includes additional graphs 1500 and 1501 showing an example ofeffects of drawing current from a power supply. FIG. 15 helps to explaincertain parts of the method in FIG. 16 in comparison with the methods inFIGS. 10 and 11 that utilize a voltage threshold. The graph 1500represents current drawn from the power source 180 along the x-axis andthe voltage of power drawn from the power source 180 along the x-axis.The graph 1501 shows the current drawn from the power source along thex-axis and the magnitude of the change in voltage per change in currentdrawn from the power source 180 (e.g., the slope) along the y-axis.Graph 1501 shows the magnitude of the slope for (dV/dI) at variouscurrent values.

As increased current is drawn from the power source 180 (e.g., throughblock 1210 of FIG. 12), the power supply is capable of providing a powerat a generally stable voltage level near line section 1514. This voltagelevel can decrease at a small rate, and has a small slope value as shownby line section 1522.

As additional current is drawn from the power supply (e.g., at block212, 312, 1210, and 1620), the power supply begins to reach capacityaround line section 1516. The slope (e.g., the rate of dV/dI) increasesas shown by line segment 1524 on the graph 1501. When the amount ofcurrent indicated by the dotted line 1502 is drawn from the powersupply, the slope (e.g., dV/dI) can exceed a threshold value for theslope (e.g., dV/dI) 1520. When even more current is drawn past theamount indicated by 1502, the voltage output by the power supply willcontinue to fall. When the amount of current indicated by the dottedline 1408 is drawn from the power supply, the voltage can fall below athreshold voltage level 1418.

The threshold for the slope (e.g., dV/dI) 1520 can be set higher thanthe slope (e.g., dV/dI) value of line segment 1522. This allows for somefluctuations. In some embodiments, the slope threshold (e.g., dV/dIthreshold) can be closer or equal to the slope (e.g., dV/dI) value ofline segment 1522.

In some embodiments, the slope threshold (e.g., dV/dI threshold) 1522can be exceeded before the voltage of the power source 180 drops belowthe threshold voltage value 1418. In some embodiments, the threshold forthe slope (e.g., dV/dI) 1522 can be exceeded at the same time as, orafter the voltage of the power source 180 drops below the thresholdvoltage value 1418.

In order to determine the power capacity of the power supply (e.g., at214, 320, 1218, and/or 1622), one or both of the amounts of currentdrawn at 1502 and 1408 can be taken into account. The power capacity canbe calculated using the voltage and current at 1502 and 1408 or inanywhere in between the range of currents 1502 and 1408 or at a valuewhere the current is below 1502 or below 1408.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of an example circuit 1700 for interrogatinga power source, as disclosed herein. Power can be received from thepower source 180 at input 1702. A voltmeter 1708 can measure a voltage,and an ammeter 1706 can measure current. A variable load 1710 can beused to change resistances or to otherwise draw more or less currentfrom the power source 180. The variable load 1710 can be thesupplemental battery 102, which can be charged at different currents. Anumber of other circuits for drawing currents can be used. The circuit1700 can be used to implement the methods 200, 300, 1200, 1600, or tootherwise empirically interrogate a power source to determine the poweroutput capacity of the power source, as described herein. Manyvariations are possible. For example, in some instances, the ammeter1706 can be omitted, and the current can be determined based on thevoltage and the setting of the variable load 1710.

With reference again to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the charging device100 can include one or more temperature sensors 142. For example, thecharging device 100 can include one or more external temperature sensorsconfigured to measure an external temperature outside the chargingdevice 100, and/or the charging device 100 can include one or moreinternal temperature sensors configured to measure one or more internaltemperatures at one or more locations inside the charging device. Theone or more internal temperature sensors can be configured to measurethe temperature at or near the supplemental battery 102, at or near thecontroller 104, at or near the input interface 110, at or near theoutput interface 112, at or near one or both of the voltage modifiers120 and/or 124, and/or at other locations in the charging device 100that are susceptible to heat. The one or more temperature sensors 142can include one or more thermistors, for example, although other typesof temperature sensors can also be used.

The controller 104 can use the temperature information from the one ormore temperature sensors 142 in operating the charging device 100. Forexample, the controller 104 can reduce the electrical current if atemperature rises above a threshold temperature level. In someembodiments, the controller 104 can disable the charging device 100, orsome functionality thereof, if a temperature is outside an acceptablerange, above a threshold temperature value, or below a thresholdtemperature value.

FIG. 13 a is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method 400for managing heat in a charging device 100. The method 400 can start atblock 402. At block 404, a temperature can be measured (e.g., using theone or more temperature sensors 142). If the measured temperature isbelow a threshold temperature value at block 406, the charging device100 can operate normally at block 408. For example, the charging device100 can use the maximum amount of electrical current that is availablefor charging the supplemental battery 102 and/or for charging the mobileelectronic device 150 (e.g., via the output interface 112). In someembodiments, the charging device 100 can operate normally at block 408by delivering electrical charge to the supplemental battery 102 and/orto the mobile electronic device 150 at the full charge rate of thesupplemental battery 102 and/or of the mobile electronic device 150. Insome embodiments, the charging device 100 can monitor the temperature atone or more locations continuously or periodically. If a temperaturemeasured at block 404 is determined to be above a threshold temperaturevalue at block 406, the controller 104 can reduce electrical current atblock 410. The controller 104 can use a formula or a lookup table (whichcan be stored in memory 106) to determine how much to reduce theelectrical current at block 410.

In some embodiments, the reduction of the electrical current can dependat least in part on the amount of time that the measured temperature isabove the threshold temperature level. For example, in some cases, thecurrent is not reduced until the temperature has been above thethreshold temperature value for an amount of time. The amount of timethat the temperature can be above the threshold before the reduction ofcurrent can be a lower amount of time depending on how far the measuredtemperature is above the threshold value, and if the temperature is highenough over the threshold value, the electrical current can be reducedat 410 without delay. In some embodiments, the electrical current can bereduced at block 410 when the measured temperature goes above thethreshold (e.g., without delay).

The method 400 can be applied to measured internal temperatures and/ormeasured external temperatures. In some embodiments, the method 400 canbe applied to temperatures measured at multiple locations. For example,temperature sensors can monitor the temperature at various locationsinside the charging device 100, as discussed above. In some embodiments,the controller 104 can be configured to reduce electrical current 410for a particular area or component in the charging device 100 that isassociated with the temperature sensor 142 that reports the temperatureabove the threshold. For example, if a temperature sensor associatedwith the supplemental battery 102 reports a temperature that is abovethe threshold temperature value, the electrical current delivered to thesupplemental battery 102 (e.g., via the charging electrical pathway) canbe reduced and/or the electrical current output from the supplementalbattery 102 (e.g., via the discharge electrical pathway) can be reduced.In some cases, the electrical current to or from the supplementalbattery 102 can be reduced while the electrical current delivered to themobile electronic device 150 (e.g., via the bypass electrical pathway)is not reduced. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the charging device100 can be configured to manage temperatures at specific locations,areas, or components without unnecessarily limiting the functionality ofother aspects of the charging device 100. In some embodiments, theelectrical current can be reduced for one location or component and theelectrical current can be raised for a different location or component,such that electrical power capacity is not wasted. For example, if atemperature sensor 142 indicates that the bypass electrical pathway isabove the threshold temperature value, the current on the bypasselectrical pathway can be reduced and the current along the chargingelectrical pathway can be increased. In some embodiments, the electricalcurrent along two or more of the charging electrical pathway, thedischarge electrical pathway, and the bypass electrical pathway can bereduced together (e.g., proportional current reduction, equal currentreduction, etc.). By way of example, if a temperature sensor 142measures a temperature that is above the threshold level, the electricalcurrent along the bypass electrical pathway (e.g., for charging themobile electronic device 150) and the current along the chargingelectrical pathway (e.g., for charging the supplemental battery 102) canboth be reduced. Both currents can be reduced by the same amount (e.g.,a reduction of 100 milliamps, 200 milliamps, 300 milliamps, etc. forboth the bypass electrical pathway and the charging electrical pathway.Both current can be reduced proportionally (e.g., the current of thebypass electrical pathway and the charging electrical pathway can bereduced by 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, etc.) In some embodiments, differenttemperature thresholds can be used for different temperature sensors142. Accordingly, for components that are more fragile, a lowertemperature threshold can be used. In some embodiments, the current canbe further reduced if the measured temperature stays above the thresholdtemperature value.

FIG. 13 b is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method 500for controlling a charging device 100. The method 500 can start at block502. At block 504, a temperature can be measured (e.g., using the one ormore temperature sensors 142). If the measured temperature is inside anacceptable temperature range at block 506, the charging device 100 canoperate normally at block 508. If a temperature measured at block 504 isdetermined to be outside the temperature range at block 506, thecontroller 104 can disable the charging device 100 at block 510. Thetemperature range can be configured such that the charging device 100 isdisabled if the temperature goes outside of a safe operating temperaturerange. For example, if the supplemental battery 102 is exposed toextreme temperatures, the supplemental battery 102 can be damaged. Othercomponents of the charging device 100 can also be damaged if exposed toextreme temperatures. In some embodiments the acceptable temperaturerange of block 506 can be replaced by an upper temperature thresholdvalue and/or a lower temperature threshold value, and the controller 104can disable the charging device 100 if the measured temperature is belowthe lower threshold or above the upper threshold.

The measured temperature at block 504 can be an internal temperature oran external temperature. For example, an extreme external temperaturecan indicate that the charging device 100 has been exposed topotentially damaging conditions (e.g., placed in a freezer, left outsidein freezing conditions, etc.) An extreme internal temperature canindicate that the charging device 100 overheated, for example, and mightbe damaged.

In some embodiments, the controller 104 can be configured to disable 510the charging device 100 completely at block 510. In some embodiments,some features and functionality of the charging device 100 can bedisabled at block 510 while other features and functionality can remainenabled. For example, at block 510, the controller 104 can disablecharging and/or discharging of the supplemental battery 102 (e.g., bydisabling the charging electrical pathway and/or the dischargeelectrical pathway) while continuing to permit pass-through charging ofthe mobile electronic device 150 (e.g., via the bypass electricalpathway). In some embodiments, the controller 104 can disable allelectrical charging in the charging device 100 (e.g., by disabling thecharging electrical pathway, the discharge electrical pathway, and thebypass electrical pathway). At block 510, the controller 104 can permitthe controller 104 to continue to operate. For example, the control 104can provide an error message (e.g., output to the user via the chargeindicator, such as by flashing lights) when the charging device 100 isdisabled at block 510. In some cases, the charging device 100 cancontinue to monitor the temperature when the charging device 100 isdisabled at block 510.

In some embodiments, the controller 104 can be configured to activatethe charging device 100 under certain conditions after being disabled atblock 510. For example, in some embodiments, if the measured temperaturereturns to values that are inside the acceptable temperature range foran amount of time, the controller 104 can be configured to reactivatethe disabled features of the charging device 100. In some embodiments,the controller 104 can be configured to reactivate the charging device100 in response to a command. For example, a technician can examine thecharging device 100 after it has been disabled at block 510 to determinewhether the charging device 100 has been damaged. After examinationand/or any needed repairs, the technician can provide a command to thecharging device 100 to reactivate the charging device 100.

In some embodiments, the charging device 100 can store battery healthinformation in the memory 106. For example, if the measured temperaturegoes outside of the temperature range, or below a lower temperaturethreshold, or above an upper temperature threshold, the controller 104can store associated information to the memory 106. For example, thecontroller 104 can store the maximum or minimum measured temperature,the time that the measured temperature was outside the range, and/orbelow the lower threshold, or above the upper threshold, and/or thenumber of times that the measured temperature has gone outside therange, or below the lower threshold, and/or above the upper threshold.In some embodiments, the controller 104 can store information relatingto the number of charge cycles applied to the supplemental battery 102.For example, the number of charge cycles can be stored, the amount ofcharging can be stored for some or all of the charge cycles (e.g.,whether the supplemental battery 102 was charged from 0% capacity to100% capacity, or from 25% capacity to 75% capacity, or from 10%capacity to 100% capacity, etc.).

In some embodiments, the controller 104 can determine whether to disablethe charging device 100, as discussed herein, based at least in part ofthe battery health information. For example, if charge cycle informationindicates that the number of charge cycles is over a threshold number(e.g., about 500 charge cycles) the controller 104 can disable thecharging device 100. In some embodiments, more charge cycles can bepermitted if the charge cycles are for relatively low charge amounts. Insome embodiments, the controller 104 can disable the charging device 100after fewer charging cycles if the charging device 100 experiencestemperature extremes (e.g., temperatures outside the ranges orthresholds discussed in connection with methods 400 and 500). In someembodiments, the controller 104 can use a formula or a lookup table todetermine whether to disable the charging device 100 based on thebattery health information. The controller 104 can calculate a batteryhealth score (e.g., based at least in part on the stored temperatureand/or charging cycle information). If the battery health score exceedsabove or below a threshold value, the controller 104 can disable thecharging device 100 (e.g., can disable electrical current along one ormore of the charging electrical pathway, the discharge electricalpathway, and/or the bypass electrical pathway).

FIG. 18 is a flowchart 1800 showing an example embodiment of a methodfor optimizing charging based on charging history. The method can startat block 1802. At block 1804, the charging device 100 can charge theelectronic device 150 and/or the supplemental battery 102. At block1806, the charging history can be logged. At block 1808, the chargingdevice 100 can adjust parameters for charging the electronic device 150(e.g., the parameters that will be applied to charging events that willoccur in the future).

Logging the charging history 1806 can include, for example, some or allof: logging the duration of charging, the voltage used to charge theelectronic device 150, the total power delivered to the electronicdevice 150 during the charging session, the time of day of charging, theday of week of charging, and the current used to charge the electronicdevice 150. The charging history could be stored in the memory 106 orsome other memory.

Adjusting parameters at block 1808 can be adjusted for speed andefficiency based on user habits inferred from the logged charginghistory. It can be based on either the latest charging history entry, orit can be based on more than one entry in the charging history.

For example, if the log of charging history indicates that theelectronic device 150 was charged only for a short amount of time, thenthe charging device 100 can adjust parameters so that the next time thecharging device 100 charges the electronic device 150, the chargingdevice will charge the electronic device 150 at a faster rate. This canbe done, for example, by increasing the current provided to theelectronic device 150 and possibly decreasing the voltage to avoidexceeding power limitations. If the logged charging history indicatesthat the user generally uses the charging device 100 to charge anelectronic device 150 for relatively short amounts of time (e.g., lesstime than would be required to bring the electronic device 150 from afully depleted state to a fully charged state), that can be anindication that the user's preference is to transfer a relatively largeamount of power in a relatively short amount of time (e.g., aperformance charging profile), even if that would result in reducedcharging efficiency or would result in reduced battery life long term.Accordingly, for later charging events, the controller 104 of thecharging device 100 can output a relatively large amount of power (e.g.,by increasing the current output from the charging device 100). Inanother example, if the logged charging history indicates that the usergenerally charges the supplemental battery 102 (via power received fromthe power source 180 via the input interface 110) for relatively shortamounts of time (e.g., less time than it would take to bring thesupplemental battery from a fully depleted state to a fully chargedstate), the controller 104 can apply a relatively large amount of powerto charge the supplemental battery 102 for later charging events, suchas by increasing the amount of current delivered to the supplementalbattery 102.

In another example, repeated entries in the log of charging history canindicate that the electronic device 150 was previously charged forextended amounts of time and charged for large amounts of power. Forexample, a user might connect the electronic device 150 to the chargingdevice 100 or otherwise initiate charging (e.g., by toggling a switch orholding down a button) and can leave the electronic device 150 connectedor the charging enabled for a relatively long amount of time (e.g., forlonger than the time required to charge the electronic device 150 from afully depleted state to a fully charged state). That can be anindication that the user's preference is to charge the electronic deviceby a relatively efficient manner even if that means the charging wouldnot be as fast as possible. In this example, the charging device 100 canadjust the parameters for later charging events such that the chargingdevice 100 will charge the electronic device 150 with a relativelyefficient approach (e.g., by reducing the current delivered to theelectronic device 150). In some embodiments, a lower current but highervoltage can be used to deliver power to the electronic device 150 underthis efficiency charging profile as compared to the performance chargingprofile. This way, the charging occurs at a higher efficiency rate, andthe extended amounts of time during which the electronic device 150 willcharge still permits the electronic device 150 to fully charge despitethe lower current. If the logged charging history indicates that theuser leaved the charging device 100 connected to the power source 180for relatively long periods of time, the controller 104 can beconfigured to charge the supplemental battery for later charging eventsusing a slower charging rate (e.g., by reducing the amount of currentprovided to the supplemental battery 102).

The time of day and day of week data can be similarly used to determinea user's daily and weekly habits to adjust charging parameters. Forexample, if a user frequently charges an electronic device 150 for shortperiods of time during working hours on weekdays and charges theelectronic device 150 for longer periods of time during all other hours,the charging device 150 can set the parameters to deliver a highercurrent charge during working hours on weekdays and to deliver a lowercurrent charge during all other times.

As another example, if the log shows that the charging device 150previously required an amount of power at or near the power capacity ofthe supplemental battery 102 or greater than some threshold amount ofpower, the charging device 100 can adjust the parameters to increase theefficiency of power delivery on the next charge in order to maximize theamount of power delivered to the electronic device 150 by increasing thecharging voltage and decreasing the charging current.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart 1900 showing an example embodiment of a methodfor managing a battery based on a battery health score. The method canstart at block 1902. At block 1904, the supplemental battery 102 ischaracterized. Characterizing the supplemental battery 102 can includemeasuring the characteristics of the supplemental battery 102 throughoutmultiple full or partial discharge cycles at one or more temperaturepoints in order to determine how the supplemental battery 102 isaffected by the different charging cycles. The characteristics caninclude the capacity of the supplemental battery 102, voltage, and otherparameters. In some embodiments, characterizing the battery at block1904 can include characterizing each supplemental battery 102. In otherembodiments, characterizing the battery at block 1904 can includecharacterizing one or more batteries to represent the characteristics ofall batteries of a specific model. Based on the characteristicsdetermined at block 1904, scoring weights can be determined at block1906. The scoring weights can be determined to reflect the relativeimpact of different types of charging and discharging events on thebattery health. For example, the characterization process can rate abattery for 500 full charge-discharge cycles and for 1000charge-discharge cycles between 20% to 80% capacity. A scoring weightcan be assigned to full charge-discharge cycles to reflect the doubledimpact compared to the 20% to 80% charge-discharge cycles.

In some embodiments, the characterization can be provided by a thirdparty, such as a battery manufacturer. In some embodiments, thedetermination of scoring weights can be provided by a third party, suchas a battery manufacturer. In these cases, the method 1900 can start atblock 1908. The memory 106 can include the battery characterizationinformation and/or the scoring weights. The memory 106 can includebattery health information for the supplemental battery 102 (e.g., acurrent health score for the supplemental battery 102).

At block 1908, an event is determined to be either a charging of thesupplemental battery 102 or a discharging of the supplemental battery102. If a charging event is recorded, then at block 1910 the extent ofcharging is determined. The extent of charging can be recorded indifferent formats. For example, it can be determined if there was a fullcharge, a partial charge, a charge of a certain increment such as a 10%charge, or a charge from one capacity to another capacity such as a 20%capacity to 80% capacity charge. The format of the determination of theextent of charging can match the formats that the battery wascharacterized with in block 1904.

After a charging event, the supplemental battery 102 can discharge atblock 1912. At block 1914, the extent of discharging can be determined.For example, it can be determined if there was a full discharge, apartial discharge, a discharge of a certain decrement, such as a 20%discharge, or a discharge from one capacity to another such as a 90%capacity to 70% capacity charge. The format of the determination of theextent of discharging can match the format that the battery wascharacterized in block 1904.

At block 1916, a new health score can be calculated. At block 1918, theimpact of the new health score can be determined.

The health score can be in different formats. In some embodiments, thehealth score is a number that reflects the total impact on thesupplemental battery 102 from different types of battery cycles. Forexample, a supplemental battery 102 might be rated duringcharacterization 1904 for 200 full charge-discharge cycles or 400partial charge-discharge cycles before degrading 30% performance. Bycontinuing example, each full charge-discharge cycle impacts thesupplemental battery 102 twice as much as a partial charge-dischargecycle. Scoring weights can be assigned as 2 points per fullcharge-discharge cycle, and 1 point for a partial charge-discharge cycleduring block 1906. When a calculation of the health score reaches 400points from any combination of full and partial charge-discharge cyclesat block 1916, the device can determine the impact at block 1918 thatthe supplemental battery 102 has 30% degraded performance and adjust thesupplemental battery parameters at block 1920. Parameters that can beadjusted include, for example, the time that the supplemental battery102 gets charged, a supplemental battery charging voltage, asupplemental battery discharging voltage, the operational temperaturethresholds, supplemental battery protection limits, etc. The knowndegradation of the supplemental battery 102 can affect other algorithms,for example, if the supplemental battery 102 is frequently used tocharge an electronic device of initially equal capacity and thesupplemental battery 102 subsequently degrades, the charging device canadjust charging parameters to increase charging efficiency to charge theelectronic device as much as possible.

In another embodiment, the health score can be a total number of timesthat the supplemental battery 102 was charged, discharged, or both. Forexample, a supplemental battery 102 can be rated for a threshold of 200full charge-discharge cycles before the performance of the supplementalbattery 102 degrades by a certain amount. The health score can be acount of the number of full charge-discharge cycles that thesupplemental battery 102 has gone through. When the supplemental battery102 goes through the 199th charge-discharge cycle, then no impact can bedetermined at block 1918. When the supplemental battery 102 goes throughthe 200th charge-discharge cycle, an impact can be determined at block1918, and the charging device 100 can change supplemental batteryparameters at block 1920 to better manage a degraded supplementalbattery 102. In another embodiment, multiple thresholds can be used toaccount for partial degradations. For example, it can be determined fora supplemental battery 102 rated for 200 full charge-discharge cycles,that a threshold occurs after 100 cycles after which the charging devicewill adjust the supplemental battery parameters by a small amount, andthat after the 200th cycle, the charging device will adjust thesupplemental battery parameters again by another amount.

In another embodiment, the charging device determines that eachcharge-discharge cycle has a certain impact on supplemental battery 102health and adjusts the supplemental battery parameters each time that acharge-discharge cycle happens (e.g., often by a marginal amount).

In some embodiments, the event determined to occur at block 1908 can bea discharging event. At block 1922, the extent of discharging can bedetermined. At block 1924, the supplemental battery 102 can be charged.At block 1926, the extent of charging can be determined beforeproceeding to block 1916 as described above.

In some embodiments, a health score can be calculated at block 1916after each charge or discharge instead of after a charge-dischargecycle. For example, after determining the extent of a charging event atblock 1910, the method can skip at 1928 to block 1916 to calculate a newhealth score. Likewise, after determining the extent of a dischargingevent at block 1922, the method can skip at 1930 to block 1916 tocalculate a new health score.

FIG. 20 is an example of a table showing various example differentcharge and discharge types and various corresponding values relating tothe impact on battery health. The system can use a lookup table, whichcan be similar to the table of FIG. 20, to determine the effect of eachcharging event and/or discharging event on the battery health.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a fuel gauge circuit 2100. The circuitcomprises a battery 2102, such as the supplemental battery 102. Thebattery 2102 is coupled to a resistor 2104. An op amp 2106 is coupledacross the resistor 2104. The output of the op amp 2106 is coupled as aninput to a counter 2108, which can include an analog to digitalconverter circuit (not shown). A clock signal 2110 is input to thecounter circuit. The output of the counter circuit 2112 can be coupledto circuitry to manage the battery 2102. The battery 2102 can couple toa load or power source at points 2114 and/or 2116. Many variations andmodifications are possible for the fuel gauge circuit 2100, as will beunderstood to one of skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein.

The fuel gauge circuit 2100 operates by amplifying a voltage differenceacross the resistor 2104. The resistor 2104 can have a small resistanceto avoid unwanted passive power dissipation. The resistor 2104 can havea precise resistance to provide an accurate count. The amplified voltagedifference can be sampled by the counter 2108 at certain increments oftime provided by a clock signal. The output of the counter 2108 thentracks the total power input to, or output by, the battery 2104, forexample.

The fuel gauge circuit 2100 can provide a relatively accurate coulombcounting of the power being delivered to or from the battery. Coulombcounting, as used herein, can refer to tracking electrical chargedelivered to a battery and/or provided from the battery (e.g., by ameasurement of current and/or other variables). By way of example, bytracking the voltage V across a known resistor 2104, the current I canbe tracked, power P can be determined in according to the formula P=IV,and the total energy stored in the battery over time can be tracked(e.g., with a clock signal 2110). The fuel gauge can track and providean accurate count current to or from the battery that can deviate frominitially characterized predictions. In some embodiments, the fuel gaugecircuit 2100 can be used to determine a state of charge of the battery2102 (e.g., whether the battery 2102 is charged to 50%, 75%, 90%, etc.)In some embodiments, the determined state of charge for the battery 2102can depend on the tracked electrical charge that has been delivered tothe battery 2102 and/or delivered from the battery 2102. For example,the voltage and current for electrical charge delivered to and/orprovided from the battery 2102 can be tracked. In some implementations,the temperature can also be tracked, and the determined state of chargefor the battery 2102 can depend on the temperature during chargingand/or discharging of the battery 2102. This information can be used tomanage the battery's health. In some embodiments, the information can beoutput, for example, to a controller 104 such as a microcontroller unit,and the controller 104 can control a battery management unit and areconfigurable protection circuit module. In some embodiments, theinformation can be directly input to a battery management unit orprotection circuit module.

For example, the total amount of power necessary to charge and dischargea battery 2102 can be tracked. This can be compared to the amount ofpower that the battery 2102 subsequently charges and discharges toestimate the battery's current capacity. In some embodiments, thecapacity of the battery 2102 can be indicated by a charge indicator 114.

In some embodiments, the total battery capacity can be calibrated orrecalibrated. For example, when a power source 180 is present to chargethe battery, the fuel gauge circuit 2100 can track a voltage differenceacross the resistor until the supplemental battery 102 no longercharges. This information can be used to determine when the batterycapacity has degraded. This information can be referenced with batterycharacterization data, such as data obtained in block 1904 of FIG. 19,to determine a battery's health. As another example, after a fullbattery charge, the fuel gauge circuit 2100 can track the voltagedifference across the resistor 2104 as the battery 2102 completelydischarges (e.g., to a load circuit or output) to estimate the totalamount of power that the battery 2102 was able to discharge.

In some embodiments, a battery management unit can charge a battery to100% capacity and then stop charging the battery, and after a fuel gaugecircuit 2100 reading that indicates that the battery only charges to 80%capacity (e.g., due to degradation of the battery), the batterymanagement unit can reconfigure to charge the battery to only 80%capacity and then stop charging the supplemental battery 102 instead ofattempting to charge the battery to 100% of its capacity.

In some embodiments, a reconfigurable protection circuit module canprotect a battery 2102 against overvoltage limits (e.g., 19V). When datafrom the fuel gauge circuit 2100 suggests that the battery has degradedby 80%, the reconfigurable protection circuit module can protect thebattery 2102 against a different overvoltage limit (e.g., 17V) toaccount for the battery degradation. The different overvoltage limitscan be determined based in part on the amount of degradation, thebattery health score, and the battery characterization. In someembodiments, the reconfigurable protection circuit module can provide asimilar feature to adjust the current limits (e.g., to account forbattery degradation).

In some embodiments, after a fuel gauge circuit 2100 reading thatindicates that the battery's capacity has degraded, this information canbe referenced with the battery health score and the batterycharacterization to determine new limits on the highest voltage that thebattery should be charged with. For example, a healthy battery can becharged at a voltage range between 9V and 19V, but a degraded batterymight only charge with a voltage range of 9V to 17V.

In some embodiments, after a fuel gauge circuit 2100 reading thatindicates that the battery's capacity has degraded, this information canbe referenced with the battery health score and the batterycharacterization to determine a new voltage that the battery 2102 shouldbe charged at in order to maximize charging efficiency and stay withinpower limits. For example, a healthy battery can be capable of chargingbetween 4.5 V and 10V, and the circuitry can charge the healthy batteryat 4.5 V and 100 mA under with a power limit of 0.45 mW. The circuitrycan reconfigure and charge a degraded battery at 9V and 50 mA under thesame thermal limit to maximize charging efficiency.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method formanaging a battery. The method can start at block 2202. At block 2204, abattery risk event can be detected. A risk event can be a detected eventthat poses a risk of damage to the battery 102. If no risk event isdetected, the method returns to block 2202 and loops until a risk eventis detected. If a risk event is detected, at block 2206, the extent ofthe risk event can be determined. In some embodiments, risk events canbe major events or minor events. In some embodiments, there can be onlyone classification or there can be multiple classifications of eventsand the classifications can be different for different types of events.For example, there can be minor thermal events, medium thermal events,and major thermal events. For more examples, there can be impact events,drop events, bend events, short circuit events, and water damage events.In some embodiments, a normal operating temperature range can be between0 and 45 degrees Celsius. A minor event can be detected when thetemperature exceeds the range of 0 to 45 degrees Celsius. A major eventcan be detected when the temperature exceeds the range of −10 to 60degrees Celsius.

If a major event is detected, then at block 2208, the battery can bedisabled and the user can be notified. For example, if the temperatureexceeds 60 degrees Celsius, then a reconfigurable protection circuitmodule, the controller 104, or some other component can disable thebattery, because the battery might be damaged. At block 2208, a user canbe notified that the supplemental battery 102 is disabled and/or thatdamage may have occurred. This can be done through the charge indicator114. In some embodiments, the user can be notified of the error throughone or more lights on the charging device that light up in a certainway. In some embodiments, a visual error message can be displayed on ascreen. The user can be notified in a variety of other methods.

If a minor event is detected at 2206, the charging device 100 can slowor stop the supplemental battery 102 from charging or discharging. Aminor event can damage the battery, or a minor event can reduce theperformance of the supplemental battery 102. For example, thereconfigurable protection circuit module, the controller 104, or someother component can slow down the rate at which the battery charges ordischarges, or it can reduce the operating voltage, current, power, orcapacity limits of the battery.

At block 2212, the charging device 100 can run diagnostics to determinewhether or not the error is recoverable. For example, a minor thermalevent triggered by a temperature above 45 degrees Celsius can berecoverable if the temperature falls below a threshold recoverytemperature, such as 45 degrees Celsius, within a certain amount oftime, such as 15 minutes. The minor thermal event might not berecoverable if the temperature ever exceeds an extreme thermalthreshold, such as 60 degrees Celsius, or does not return below athreshold recovery temperature within a certain amount of time. In someembodiments, the diagnostics can test the electrical functionalities ofthe circuit. For example, if a charging device 100 with a supplementalbattery 102 configured to output 4.5 V experiences a minor thermalevent, then the circuit can measure the voltage output of thesupplemental battery. In such a scenario, the circuit can, for example,isolate the battery from the load and any power sources and measure theoutput voltage of the supplemental battery 102 to determine if thebattery can still output 4.5 V, or the circuit can test for the capacityof the battery. A test circuit can also test for power output, current,stability, and a number of other variables to determine if thesupplemental battery 102 can recover after the minor event.

If at block 2214 it is determined that the supplemental battery 102cannot recover, then at block 2208, the charging device 100 disables thesupplemental battery 102 and notifies the user.

If at block 2214 it is determined that the supplemental battery 102 canpartially recover from the risk event, then at block 2222, the chargingdevice 100 can degrade the supplemental battery's future performance.For example, after a minor impact event where the charging device 100was dropped for a short height, the supplemental battery 102 mightbecome damaged and only operate at 50% capacity and charge at a 25%slower rate. At block 2222, the charging device can reconfigure toenable the supplemental battery 102 to only charge and discharge 50% ofits capacity and to charge or discharge at a 25% slower rate. In otherexamples, the charging voltage, discharging voltage, charging current,discharging current, charging rate, discharging rate, power, and otherparameters of the supplemental battery 102 can be adjusted toaccommodate for the degradation and/or damage to the supplementalbattery 102 caused by the minor event.

If at block 2214 it is determined that the supplemental battery 102 isnot damaged and/or is recoverable, then at block 2216 the chargingdevice can attempt to resume partial performance of the supplementalbattery 102. Partial performance can be resumed at a slow rate while thesupplemental battery 102 is carefully monitored. For example, after aminor event, the supplemental battery's capacity can be resumed at 25%,and after verifying that the supplemental battery 102 is stable andoperates with expected characteristics for a certain number ofcharge-discharge cycles or period of time, then resuming batterycapacity at 35%, and so on. If any major recovery problems are detectedat block 2218, then the battery can be disabled and the user can benotified at block 2208. If minor recovery problems are detected, thenthe battery's performance can be degraded at block 2222. If no problemsare detected at block 2218, then the battery can resume fullperformance. In some embodiments, special monitoring of battery healthcan continue to occur after full performance of the supplemental battery102 has been resumed for a certain number of cycles or for a certainlength of time.

Many variations and modifications to the method 2200 are possible.Various operations of the method 2200 can be omitted or combined, andadditional operations can be added to the method 2200. For example, insome embodiments, when it is determined at block 2214 that thesupplemental battery 102 is not damaged and/or is recoverable, themethod can proceed to block 2220 and skip partial recovery andadditional diagnostics.

In some embodiments, the method 2200 will not proceed until a risk eventcondition has ended. For example, if minor water damage is detected atblock 2206, the charging device 100 can stop charging the supplementalat block 2210. Before proceeding to block 2212, the charging device canwait for a threshold amount of time for the water damage to end. Asanother example, if a charging device suffers a minor thermal event thatis recoverable, the method might not proceed to block 2216 and resumebattery performance until the temperature of the charging device 100returns within normal limits.

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of an ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) 2300. The ASIC 2300 can couple to asupplemental battery 102. The ASIC can include each of, or anycombination of, the following components: a linear dropout regulator(LDO) module 2304, a battery management unit (BMU) 2310, areconfigurable protection circuit module 2312, a micro controller unit(MCU) module 2306, a fuel gauge module 2314, and a USB module 2308 a,2308 b into a single chip. This enables benefits that arise fromcombining the different modules into one package. For example,integrating the LDO module into the ASIC provides for cost savingscompared to using separate LDO modules outside of the ASIC. Integratinga reconfigurable PCM allows for the benefit of no longer needing customPCM trimming by a manufacturer, saving time and money, and furtherallows the PCM 2312 to be reconfigured by the MCU module 2306 asconditions change, such as in response to the battery health, damagingevents, different configurations of supplemental batteries 102,different configurations of power sources 180, and different demands ofelectronic devices 150. The integration of the reconfigurable PCM stillallows for real-time, analog protection of the supplemental batterywhile still maintaining independence from firmware failures.

The ASIC 2300 can have one or more output interface ports 112 a, 112 bto couple to one or more electronic devices 150. In some embodiments,output interface port 112 a and 112 b can be the same output interfaceport.

The ASIC 2300 can have an input port 2318, which can receive electricalpower and/or data from an external device or power source 180. In someembodiments, the input port 2318 an be configured to receive anelectrical connector 182 from the power source 180. A bypass module 2302can be configured to couple an electrical pathway between the input port2318 and the output interface port 112 a. The bypass module 2302 canalso couple an electrical pathway from the input port 2318 to othermodules, such as the BMU 2310.

The ASIC 2300 can have an LDO module. The LDO module can have one ormore linear dropout regulators (not shown). The linear dropoutregulators can be configured to output one or more voltages at one ormore LDO ports 2320. In some embodiments, the LDO module can have afirst LDO regulator (e.g., to output 1.8 V) and a second LDO regulator(e.g., to output 3.0 V).

The ASIC 2306 can have an MCU module 2306. The MCU module 2306 can havea central processor unit (CPU), memory such as random access memory(RAM) or other volatile memory, and/or storage such as registers (notshown) or nonvolatile memory. In some embodiments, the registers arepart of the CPU. The MCU module 2306 can be configured to receive one ormore inputs from a general input/output port 2322. The MCU module 2306module 2306 can control other parts of the ASIC, and the MCU module 2306can be programmed to control other parts of the circuit or chargingdevice 100, as described herein. The MCU module 2306 can communicate orcontrol other modules through one or more communication pathways 2316.In some embodiments, MCU module 2306 can comprise microcontroller 104.

In some embodiments, the MCU module 2306 can have Flash storage memoryand/or static random access memory. By way of example, the MCU module2306 can have one or more MCU architecture cores (e.g., 8051architecture cores) and/or can be programmable via the USB module 2308a, 2308 b.

The MCU module 2306 can run one or more algorithms to control othermodules of the ASIC based in inputs. For example, the MCU module 2306can reconfigure the reconfigurable PCM 2312 to change the capacity ofthe supplemental battery 102 based on input from the fuel gauge 2100,such as when the fuel gauge 2100 indicates that the supplemental battery102 has only charged to 80% despite the presence of a power source 180,which can be an indication of battery degradation. The MCU module 2306can configure the reconfigurable PCM and BMU 2310 not to attempt tocharge or discharge the supplemental battery 102 beyond the a reducedcapacity (e.g., 80% capacity) when an indication is received that thebattery 102 has degraded to the reduced capacity (e.g., to 80%capacity). The MCU module 2306 can store the charging history and adjustthe performance of the battery, such as the charge rate and theefficiency, based on the charging history as described in FIG. 18. TheMCU module 2306 can be used to implement part or all of the methodsdisclosed herein (e.g., the methods shown in FIG. 10, 11, 12, 13 a, 13b, 16, 18, 19, or 22). For example, the MCU module 2306 can be used todetermine the power capacity of a power source 180. The MCU module 2306can store battery characterization and implement part or all of method1900 in FIG. 19 to calculate a health score, determine a score impact,and change parameters for the supplemental battery 102 by communicatingwith the BMU 2310 or reconfigurable PCM 2312 through the communicationpathway 2316. The MCU module 2306 can perform other functions describedherein, and the MCU module 2306 can communicate to control the othermodules in the ASIC and other components of the charging device 100.

The ASIC 2306 can have a Battery Management Unit (BMU) 2310. The BMU2310 can comprise one or more voltage modifiers (not shown in FIG. 23)such as a voltage regulator, a buck converter, or a boost converter. TheBMU 2310 and bypass module 2302 can comprise the circuitry of FIGS. 5-9.The BMU 2310 can regulate the charging and discharging voltage, current,and power of the supplemental battery 102. The BMU 2310 can charge ordischarge the battery up to certain capacities or at certain rates or atcertain efficiencies. The BMU 2310 can reconfigure, based at least inpart on control communications from the MCU module 2306, power source180 power capacity, power source 180 input voltage, required outputvoltage at output interface 112, supplemental battery configuration, orsupplemental battery health.

In some embodiments, the BMU 2310 can comprise both a buck converter anda boost converter. In some embodiments, a first inductor can be used forthe buck converter and a second inductor can be used for the boostconverter (e.g., the BMU 2310 can be configured to operate the buckconverter and the boost converter simultaneously). In some embodiments,a single inductor can be used for both the buck converter and the boostconverter (e.g., the BMU can 2310 can be configured to selectivelyoperate the boost converter or the buck converter). In some embodiments,the BMU 2310 can be disabled when the bypass module enables theelectrical pathway from input port 2318 to output interface 112.

In some embodiments, the BMU 2310 can be configured to simultaneouslyboost and buck input voltage received from a power source 180 to both asupplemental battery 102 and an electronic device 150. For example, theBMU 2310 can first boost the voltage to the higher of the voltagesrequired by the supplemental battery 102 and the electronic device 150,and can then buck the voltage down to the lower voltage level of thevoltages required by the supplemental battery 102 and the electronicdevice 150. In some embodiments, the BMU 2310 can be configured to powerthe electronic device 150 with power from the power source 180 and tocharge the supplemental battery 102 with any excess power provided bypower source 180 that is not being used to charge the electronic device150.

For example, the BMU 2310 can be coupled to a 4.5 V battery, and theelectronic device 150 is configured to receive 5.1 V or at least 4.8 V.If the power source 180 supplies an input voltage of at least 4.8 V upto a threshold limit such as 12V, the BMU 2310 can toggle one or moreswitches to charge the electronic device 150. Additionally, the BMU 2310can charge the supplemental battery 102 with any leftover current if theinput current from the power source 180 exceeds the current delivered tothe electronic device 150. If the power source 180 supplies an inputvoltage of between about 3.9 V to less than 4.8 V, the BMU 2310 canoperate a boost converter to boost the input voltage up to 5.1 V tocharge the electronic device 150. Any leftover current can then bestepped down (e.g., using a buck converter) to 4.5 V and used to chargethe supplemental battery 102. If the power source 180 supplies an inputvoltage of about 0 V to 3.9 V, then the MCU module 2306 can beconfigured to provide power from the supplemental battery 102 to theelectronic device 150 and step up the power provided by the supplementalbattery 102 with a boost converter.

As another example, the BMU 2310 can be coupled to a 9 V battery, or totwo 4.5 V battery cells in series, and the electronic device 150 can beconfigured to receive 5.1V or at least 4.8 V. If the power source 180supplies an input voltage of at least 4.8 V up to a threshold limit suchas 19V, the BMU 2310 can toggle one or more switches to step up thepower provided by the power source 180 to at least 9 V with a boostconverter, and then step down power provided from the battery to 5.1 Vwith a buck converter. If the power source 180 supplies an input voltageof between about 0 V to 4.5 V, then the BMU 2310 can be configured tostep down voltage from the battery to 5.1 V with a buck converter andprovide the 5.1 V of power to the electronic device 150.

The ASIC can have a reconfigurable PCM 2312. The PCM 2312 can couple tosupplemental battery 102 through port 2330 and protect the supplementalbattery 102 against one or more conditions, such as overvoltage,undervoltage, overcurrent, undercurrent, and short circuit conditions.The reconfigurable PCM 2312 can protect one or more battery cells of thesupplemental battery 102. The reconfigurable PCM 2312 can protect thesupplemental battery 102, such as during either charging or discharging.The reconfigurable PCM 2312 can also be configured to disable chargingor discharging, adjust the maximum charging and discharging rates,adjust the maximum voltages for charging and discharging, adjustoperational voltages for charging and discharging, adjust the maximumcharging current or maximum discharging current, and/or adjust otherparameters as described herein. The reconfigurable PCM 2310 can bereconfigurable by the MCU module 2306, through another module, or upondetection of certain circuit conditions. The MCU module 2306 canconfigure the reconfigurable PCM 2312 based at least in part on theoccurrence of one or more damaging events such as described with respectto FIG. 22 and based at least in part on the health of the battery asdescribed with respect to FIG. 19. The reconfigurable PCM 2312 can havecircuitry shown in FIG. 27.

The ASIC 2300 can have a fuel gauge module 2314. The fuel module 2314can be coupled to the supplemental battery 102 via a port 2328. The fuelgauge module 2314 can operate as described herein, such as with respectto FIG. 21. The fuel gauge module 2314 can communicate with the MCUmodule 2306. MCU module 2306 can determine the current charge and chargecapacity of the supplemental battery 102. The MCU module 2306 can outputdata (e.g., through general I/O ports 2322) to indicate the currentcharge capacity of the charging device 100 through charge indicator 114.The MCU module 2306 can count the charge input to or drawn out of thesupplemental battery 102 in order to determine the current charge of thesupplemental battery 102. The MCU module 2306 or other circuitry canperiodically recalibrate the maximum capacity of the battery. Forexample, if a power source 180 is coupled the charging device 100 andcontinuously supplies power, the MCU module 2306 can track the currentflowing into the supplemental battery 102 and determine that thesupplemental battery 102 has reached an actual maximum capacity when thefuel gauge module 2314 indicates that no more current flows into thesupplemental battery 102, even if the supplemental battery 102 issupposed to be capable of storing a higher maximum capacity. Thisscenario can occur when the supplemental battery 102 degrades throughuse, age, damage, or other causes.

The ASIC 2300 can have one or more USB Modules 2308 a, 2308 b. USBModules 2308 a and 2308 b can be a single USB module. The USB modules2308 a, 2308 b can have a USB input port 2324 and a USB output port2326. The USB input port can be in communication with the MCU module2306, for example, to read, write, program, flash, reset, or operate theMCU module. The USB module 2308 a can also be in communication to modifyfirmware, such as firmware for the MCU module 2306.

The USB module 2308 can act as an intermediary between an electronicdevice 150 and a power source 180 to maximize power delivery. The USBmodule 2308 a can do this by negotiating with the power source 180through USB input port 2324 for the highest power that the power source180 can provide, and negotiating separately with an electronic device150 coupled through port 2326 to USB module 2308 b to deliver thehighest power that the electronic device 150 can receive. For example,if a power source 180 is a USB 3.0 device and the electronic device 150is a USB 2.0 device, the power source 180 might be able to deliver morepower than the USB 2.0 device can accept. If the USB 2.0 device werecoupled directly to the USB 3.0 device, then the USB 3.0 device couldonly negotiate to deliver power at USB 2.0 levels. However, when acharging device 100 is coupled as an intermediary between the USB 3.0device and the USB 2.0 device, the charging device 100 can negotiate forthe full amount of power provided over a USB 3.0 interface with thepower source, deliver all the power supported over a USB 2.0 interfaceto electronic device 150, and use any excess current from the powersource 180 to charge the supplemental battery 102.

In some embodiments, when the USB module 2308 a is coupled through USBinput port 2324 to a USB compliant host, which can be the power source180, and the USB module 2308 b is coupled through USB output port 2326to a USB compliant electronic device 150, then the USB modules 2308 a,2308 b can couple the USB compliant power source 180 to the USBcompliant electronic device 150. The USB module functions like a bypasspathway between the USB host and a USB device.

In some embodiments, when the USB module 2308 a is coupled through USBinput port 2324 to a USB compliant host, which can be the power source180, and the USB module 2308 b is not coupled to an electronic device150, then the USB modules 2308 a can register with the USB compliantpower source 180 as a portable device. This can allow the USB host todeliver a small amount of current, such as 0.5 A, to the charging device100. In this configuration, the USB host can also send data to the USBmodule 2308 a. This data can be, for example, instructions to the MCUmodule 2306, or to rewrite firmware. In some embodiments, if no data isreceived from the USB host for a certain timeout period, then the USBmodule 2308 a can reregister as a dedicated charger or downstreamcharging port. This enables the charging device 100 to receive a greateramount of current, such as 1.5 A, from the USB host.

In some embodiments, if the USB module 2308 a is not coupled to a powersource 180, and the USB module 2308 b is coupled to a USB compliantelectronic device 150, then the USB module 2308 b can register as adedicated charger to the electronic device 150.

Additional details of USB module 2308 are described with respect toFIGS. 24-26. Various embodiments are described herein in connection withuniversal serial bus (USB) interfaces, modules, or devices. It will beunderstood to one of skill in the art that various other types ofinterfaces, modules, or devices can be used other than USB, and thedisclosure provided herein in connection with USB interfaces, modules,or devices can relate to other, non-USB embodiments.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) module 2400 in a first configuration. The USB module2400 in FIG. 24 can be the USB module 2308 in FIG. 23.

USB module 2400 can have a host detector 2403 to detect the presence ofa USB host 2401 through a port 2407. The USB host 2401 can act as apower source 180. USB module 2400 can also have a physical layerinterface 2405 configured to convert formats between a USB data formatand an input format for the MCU module. The USB module 2400 can haveports 2407, 2409, 2411, and 2413, which can make up parts of USB inputport 2324 and USB output port 2326. The USB module 2400 can have a hostdetector 2403 to detect the presence of a USB compatible host 2401,e.g., when coupled via a voltage line VBUS 2415. Switch 2419 can be opento prevent port 2407 from electrically coupling with port 2409.Differential pair line DP/DM 2417 can couple from the USB host throughport 2411 to the host detector 2403 and to the physical layer interface2405. Switch 2421 can couple DP/DM 2417 to the physical layer interface2405 to communicate with the MCU 2306, and switch 2421 can prevent theDP/DM differential pair from electrically coupling to port 2413. In thisconfiguration, no portable device is present. The charging device 100can communicate with the USB host 2401 and negotiate to receiveelectrical power, such as the highest amount of power supported by theUSB host 2401 or a power level that the charging device 100 isconfigured to utilize. In some embodiments, the USB module 2400 willfirst register as a portable device with the USB host 2401 to enabledata communication, e.g., through the physical layer interface 2405. Ifno data is received for a certain period of time, then the USB module2400 can break the connection with the USB host 2401 and reregister withthe USB host as a dedicated charging downstream port, which can enabletransfer of higher power levels from the USB host (e.g., power source180) to the charging device 100.

FIG. 25 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a USB module ina second configuration 2500. A USB device, which can be electronicdevice 150, is coupled to the USB module 2500. An electronic devicedetector (not shown) can detect the presence of a USB device 2423, whichcan be the electronic device 150. A voltage line VBUS 2427 couples theUSB device 2423 through port 2409 and through closed switch 2419 to thehost detector and also to the voltage line VBUS 2415 of the USB host2421. Switch 2421 is in a position to couple the differential pair lineDP/DM 2417 of the USB host 2421 to the differential pair line 2425 forthe USB device 2423. Switch 2421 disconnects the USB host 2421 from thephysical layer interface 2405. The USB module 2500 can enable this USBbypass configuration to electrically couple the voltage line VBUS 2415of the USB host 2421 to the voltage line VBUS 2427 of the USB device2423 and to electrically couple the data differential pairs 2417 of theUSB host 2421 to data differential pairs 2425 of the USB device 2423.The charging device 100 can do this, for example, to enablecommunication between USB host 2421 and the USB device 2423. Thecharging device can also do this when the USB Host 2421 and USB device2423 support the same maximum transfer of power. For example, when boththe USB Host 2421 and USB device 2423 are USB 3.0 devices, the USBmodule can be configured in this USB bypass configuration. In someembodiments, if the USB host 2421 supports USB 3.0 and the USB device2423 supports USB 2.0, the USB module 2500 can negotiate with the USBhost 2421 for the maximum power available, and then the USB module 2500can deliver the maximum power supported by the USB device 2423 to theUSB device 2423 and divert excess power to the supplemental battery 102.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a USB module ina third configuration. USB module 2600 is coupled to a power supply2601, which in some embodiments is not USB compliant. The power supply2601 can have a power line 2415 coupled through port 2407 to the hostdetector. The power line 2415 can also be coupled through switch 2419and port 2409 to the USB device 2423. Switch 2421 is in a positiondisconnecting the physical layer interface from the USB device 2423. TheUSB module 2600 can register with the USB device 2423 as a dedicatedcharger.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a reconfigurableprotection circuit module (PCM) 2312. The reconfigurable PCM 2312protects the supplemental battery 102 against certain conditions, suchas overvoltage, undervoltage, overcurrent, undercurrent, temperature,and/or short circuit problems during both charging and discharging.

The reconfigurable PCM 2312 can be programmed by the MCU module 2306 todetect a variety of health and safety parameters. The MCU module 2306can program and reprogram values to drive one or more reference lines tocontrol the different safety parameters. Whenever a fault is detected,one or more switches can be opened to disable the supplemental battery.

In some embodiments, a reconfigurable PCM 2312 protects a supplementalbattery 102 comprising two battery cells, upper battery cell 2703 andlower battery cell 2705, arranged in a series configuration. The upperbattery cell 2703 couples to the reconfigurable PCM at ports 2713 and2715, and the lower battery cell 2705 couples to the reconfigurable PCMat ports 2715 and 2717. The supplemental battery 102 is coupled to asense resistor 2707, which is coupled to a grounding reference 2709.Various other configurations are possible. For example, in someimplementations, a single battery cell can be used.

An operational amplifier 2711 b can be coupled at a noninverting inputto the positive terminal of upper battery cell 2703 and coupled at aninverting input to the negative terminal of upper battery cell 2703.

An op amp 2711 a can be coupled at an inverting input to the output ofop amp 2711 b (e.g., to receive a battery voltage for the upper batterycell 2703) and can be coupled at a noninverting input to a referenceline 2725 a for a minimum upper battery cell voltage (which can be aprogrammable variable that is set in a register, such as set by the MCUmodule 2306), and op amp 2711 a outputs an undervoltage detection signalon line 2725 b for the upper battery cell 2703. In some embodiments, theMCU module 2306, or another processor, can read the undervoltagedetection signal from line 2725 b and determine whether the batteryvoltage for the upper battery cell 2703 is below the programmed minimumbattery voltage threshold. Many variations are possible. In someembodiments, a programmable undervoltage detection circuit can receive afirst input for the voltage across the battery 102 (or across a batterycell of a multi-cell battery) and a second input that is a programmablebattery minimum voltage threshold. The circuit can include a comparatorto determine if the battery voltage of the first input is below thebattery minimum voltage threshold of the second input. If the voltage isbelow the minimum battery voltage threshold (which can be read from aprogrammable memory such as a register), the circuit can output a signal(e.g., to the MCU module 2306) to take appropriate action (e.g., toraise the battery voltage, to disable the battery, etc.)

An op amp 2711 c can be coupled at a noninverting input to the output ofop amp 2711 b (e.g., to receive a battery voltage for the upper batterycell 2703) and can be coupled at an inverting input to a reference line2723 a for a maximum upper battery cell voltage (which can be aprogrammable variable that is set in a register, such as set by the MCUmodule 2306), and the op amp 2711 c can output an overvoltage detectionsignal on line 2723 b. In some embodiments, the MCU module 2306, oranother processor, can read the overvoltage detection signal from line2723 b and determine whether the battery voltage for the upper batterycell 2703 is above the programmed maximum battery voltage threshold.Many variations are possible. In some embodiments, a programmableovervoltage detection circuit can receive a first input for the voltageacross the battery 102 (or across a battery cell of a multi-cellbattery) and a second input that is a programmable battery maximumvoltage threshold. The circuit can include a comparator to determine ifthe battery voltage of the first input is above the maximum batteryvoltage threshold of the second input. If the battery voltage is abovethe maximum battery voltage threshold (which can be read from a memory,such as a programmable register), the circuit can output a signal (e.g.,to the MCU module 2306) to take appropriate action (e.g., the lower thebattery voltage, to disable the battery 102, etc.).

An op amp 2711 d can be coupled at an inverting input to the positiveterminal of lower battery cell 2705 (e.g., to receive a battery voltagefor the lower battery cell 2705) and can be coupled at a noninvertinginput to a reference line 2721 a for a minimum battery voltage (whichcan be a programmable variable that is set in a register, such as set bythe MCU module 2306), and op amp 2711 d can output an undervoltagedetection signal on line 2721 b for the lower battery cell 2705. In someembodiments, the MCU module 2306, or another processor, can read theundervoltage detection signal from line 2721 b and determine whether thebattery voltage for the lower battery cell 2705 is below the programmedminimum battery voltage threshold. Many variations are possible. In someembodiments, a programmable undervoltage detection circuit can receive afirst input for the voltage across the battery 102 (or across a batterycell of a multi-cell battery) and a second input that is a programmablebattery minimum voltage threshold. The circuit can include a comparatorto determine if the battery voltage of the first input is below thebattery minimum voltage threshold of the second input. If the voltage isbelow the minimum battery voltage threshold (which can be read from aprogrammable memory such as a register), the circuit can output a signal(e.g., to the MCU module 2306) to take appropriate action (e.g., toraise the battery voltage, to disable the battery, etc.)

An op amp 2711 e can be coupled at a noninverting input to the positiveterminal of lower battery cell 2705 (e.g., to receive a battery voltagefor the lower battery cell 2705) and can be coupled at an invertinginput to a reference line 2719 a for a maximum lower cell batteryvoltage (which can be a programmable variable that is set in a register,such as set by the MCU module 2306), and op amp 2711 e can output alower cell overvoltage detection signal on line 2719 b for the lowerbattery cell 2705. In some embodiments, the MCU module 2306, or anotherprocessor, can read the overvoltage detection signal from line 2719 band determine whether the battery voltage for the lower battery cell2705 is above the programmed maximum battery voltage threshold. Manyvariations are possible. In some embodiments, a programmable overvoltagedetection circuit can receive a first input for the voltage across thebattery 102 (or across a battery cell of a multi-cell battery) and asecond input that is a programmable battery maximum voltage threshold.The circuit can include a comparator to determine if the battery voltageof the first input is above the maximum battery voltage threshold of thesecond input. If the battery voltage is above the maximum batteryvoltage threshold (which can be read from a memory, such as aprogrammable register), the circuit can output a signal (e.g., to theMCU module 2306) to take appropriate action (e.g., the lower the batteryvoltage, to disable the battery 102, etc.).

An op amp 2711 f can be coupled at an inverting input to the negativeterminal of lower battery cell 2705 (e.g., to receive a signalindicative of a battery discharge current from the battery 102) and canbe coupled at a noninverting input to a reference line 2727 a for amaximum battery discharge current threshold signal (which can be aprogrammable variable that is set in a register, such as set by the MCUmodule 2306), and op amp 2711 f can output a battery discharge currentprotection signal on line 2727 b. In some embodiments, the MCU module2306, or another processor, can read the battery discharge currentprotection signal from line 2727 b and determine whether the batterydischarge current is above the programmed maximum battery dischargecurrent threshold. Many variations are possible. In some embodiments, aprogrammable battery current protection circuit can receive a firstinput corresponding to the amount of current discharged from the battery102 and a second input that is a programmable battery maximum currentdischarge threshold. The circuit can include a comparator to determineif the battery discharge current of the first input is above the maximumbattery discharge current threshold of the second input. If the batterycurrent discharge is above the maximum battery current dischargethreshold (which can be read from a memory, such as a programmableregister), the circuit can output a signal (e.g., to the MCU module2306) to take appropriate action (e.g., the lower the battery dischargecurrent, to disable the battery 102, etc.).

An op amp 2711 g can be coupled at a noninverting input to the negativeterminal of lower battery cell 2705 and can be coupled at an invertinginput to a reference line 2729 a for a short circuit reference voltage(which can be a programmable variable that is set in a register, such asset by the MCU module 2306), and op amp 2711 g can output a shortcircuit protection signal on line 2727 b. Many variations are possible.The op amp 2711 g can be configured to detect a short circuit. The opamp 2711 g can receive an input for the voltage across an external senseresistor, which can be in series with the battery 102 (e.g., using ananalog comparator). When that voltage exceeds the short circuitreference voltage, the circuit can send a signal indicative of a shortcircuit (e.g., to the MCU module 2306) and appropriate action can betake, such as disabling the battery 102).

An op amp 2711 h can be coupled at a noninverting input to the negativeterminal of lower battery cell 2705 (e.g., to receive a signalindicative of a battery charging current used to charge the battery 102)and can be coupled at an inverting input to a reference line 2731 a fora maximum battery charging current threshold signal (which can be aprogrammable variable that is set in a register, such as set by the MCUmodule 2306), and op amp 2711 h can output a maximum battery chargingcurrent protection signal on line 2731 b. In some embodiments, the MCUmodule 2306, or another processor, can read the battery charging currentprotection signal from line 2731 b and determine whether the batterycharging current is above the programmed maximum battery chargingcurrent threshold. Many variations are possible. In some embodiments, aprogrammable battery current protection circuit can receive a firstinput corresponding to the amount of current charging the battery 102and a second input that is a programmable battery maximum chargingcurrent threshold. The circuit can include a comparator to determine ifthe battery charging current of the first input is above the maximumbattery charging current threshold of the second input. If the batterycharging current is above the maximum battery charging current threshold(which can be read from a memory, such as a programmable register), thecircuit can output a signal (e.g., to the MCU module 2306) to takeappropriate action (e.g., the lower the battery charging current, todisable the battery 102, etc.).

An op amp 2711 i is coupled at a noninverting input to a temperaturesensor (e.g., connected to a thermistor drive through port 2337 to athermistor 2739, which can be coupled to a ground 2741 or othercircuitry), to receive a battery temperature. Op amp 2711 i can becoupled at an inverting input to a reference line 2733 a for a maximumbattery temperature signal (which can be a programmable variable that isset in a register, such as set by the MCU module 2306). Op amp 2711 ican output a battery temperature detection signal on line 2733 b. Insome embodiments, the MCU module 2306, or another processor, can readthe battery temperature detection signal from line 2733 b and determinewhether the battery temperature is above the programmed maximum batterytemperature threshold. Many variations are possible. In someembodiments, a programmable battery temperature protection circuit canreceive a first input corresponding to the battery temperature (e.g.,received from a thermistor or other temperature sensor) and a secondinput that is a programmable battery maximum temperature threshold. Thecircuit can include a comparator to determine if the battery temperatureof the first input is above the maximum battery temperature threshold ofthe second input. If the battery temperature is above the maximumbattery temperature threshold (which can be read from a memory, such asa programmable register), the circuit can output a signal (e.g., to theMCU module 2306) to take appropriate action (e.g., the lower the batterydischarge or charging power, to disable the battery 102, etc.).

The reconfigurable PCM can use analog circuits, and not digitalcircuits, for monitoring the battery voltage, discharge current,charging current, temperature, and short circuit detection. In someimplementations analog circuits can be faster than digital circuits andin some cases can be more reliable since the analog circuits may operateindependent of the device firmware and digital components. For example,the output of the various detection circuits (e.g., op amps 2711 a-i)can output a signal (e.g., an amplified voltage) that is indicative of acomparison of the measured value (e.g., battery voltage, chargingcurrent, discharge current, temperature) to the reference value (e.g.,the maximum or minimum battery voltage threshold, the maximum chargingcurrent threshold, the maximum discharge current threshold, the maximumtemperature threshold), and the output signal can be received by one ormore analog circuits which can be configured to take appropriate actionbased on the output signals from the reconfigurable PCM. For example, ifthe signal (e.g., the amplified voltage) of line 2731 b indicates thatthe battery charging current is above the maximum battery chargingcurrent threshold, the analog circuit can be configured to open a switchthat discontinues charging of the battery 102 (e.g., without use of anydigital components).

FIG. 28 is schematic view of an example embodiment of a reconfigurablesystem 2800 for protecting a battery. An MCU module 2306 has a CPU 2801that sets a digital overvoltage protection limit in a register 2803. Theregister output is coupled to a digital to analog converter 2805, whichgenerates an analog representation of the overvoltage protection limitthat is input through a line 2719 a to the inverting input of an op amp2711 e in the reconfigurable PCM 2312. The noninverting input of the opamp 2711 e is coupled to the positive terminal of a battery cell 2705 inthe supplemental battery 102. The op amp generates an output signal online 2719 b for detecting an overvoltage problem.

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a window controlcircuit 2900. The window control circuit is one example of a circuitthat can protect a load 2922 from overvoltage or undervoltage conditionson a battery 2902 through the use of a switch 2916 that opens a circuit2918 when current flows through 2920 from a voltage source 2904. Ananalog-to-digital converter (ADC) can be used to perform the samefunction, and many other variations are possible.

A battery 2902 is coupled to a resistor 2906 that is coupled to twodiodes 2908, 2910. When a battery 2902 voltage reaches a minimum value,diode 2908 can turn on when and turn on transistor 2912, which willclose the circuit at 2918 and couple the battery to the load 2922. Whenthe battery 2902 voltage reaches a overvoltage, diode 2910 turns andenables transistor 2914, which pulls down the voltage from the base oftransistor 2912, turning off transistor 2912 which stops the currentthrough 2920 and opens up the circuit at 2918.

The systems and methods disclosed herein can be implemented in hardware,software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Software can includecomputer-readable instructions stored in memory (e.g., non-transitory,tangible memory, such as solid state memory (e.g., ROM, EEPROM, FLASH,RAM), optical memory (e.g., a CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, etc.), magneticmemory (e.g., a hard disc drive), etc.), configured to implement thealgorithms on a general purpose computer, one or more special purposeprocessors, or combinations thereof. For example, one or more computingdevices, such as a processor, may execute program instructions stored incomputer readable memory to carry out processes disclosed herein.Hardware may include state machines, one or more general purposecomputers, and/or one or more special purpose processors. While certaintypes of user interfaces and controls are described herein forillustrative purposes, other types of user interfaces and controls maybe used.

The embodiments discussed herein are provided by way of example, andvarious modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein.Certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context ofseparate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a singleembodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in thecontext of a single embodiment can be implemented in multipleembodiments separately or in various suitable subcombinations. Also,features described in connection with one combination can be excisedfrom that combination and can be combined with other features in variouscombinations and subcombinations.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings or described ina particular order, the operations can be performed in a different orderthan shown or described. Other operations not depicted can beincorporated before, after, or simultaneously with the operations shownor described. In some instances, certain operations described herein canbe omitted or can be combined with other disclosed operations. Incertain circumstances, parallel processing or multitasking can be used.Also, in some cases, the operations shown or discussed can be omitted orrecombined to form various combinations and subcombinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A charging device for charging a mobileelectronic device, the charging device comprising: a protective caseconfigured to at least partially enclose the mobile electronic device,the protective case comprising: a lower case portion comprising: a backportion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a backside of the mobile electronic device; a bottom portion configured to bepositioned along at least a portion of a bottom of the mobile electronicdevice; a right side portion configured to be positioned along at leasta portion of a right side of the mobile electronic device; a left sideportion configured to be positioned along at least a portion of a leftside of the mobile electronic device; an open top side to facilitateinsertion of the mobile electronic device into the lower case portion; asupplemental battery disposed in the back portion of the lower caseportion; an input interface on an exterior of the lower case portion,the input interface configured to receive electrical power from anexternal power source; and an output interface on an interior of thelower case portion, the output interface configured to engage anelectrical port on the mobile electronic device to output electricalpower to the mobile electronic device; and an upper case portioncomprising: a top portion configured to be positioned along at least aportion of a top of the mobile electronic device; wherein the upper caseportion is configured to removably couple to the lower case portion tohold the mobile electronic device in the protective case; wherein afront opening of the protective case is configured such that a displayof the mobile electronic device is visible through the front openingwhen the upper case portion is coupled to the lower case portion; and abattery health monitor configured to monitor battery health informationand to disable or limit charging or discharging of the supplementalbattery based at least in part on the battery health information.
 2. Thecharging device of claim 1, where the battery health monitor comprises atemperature sensor configured to measure a temperature for the chargingdevice.
 3. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the battery healthinformation includes charge cycle information.
 4. The charging device ofclaim 1, wherein the battery health information includes a health score,wherein the battery health monitor is configured to adjust the healthscore by a first amount upon at least one of charging and dischargingthe supplemental battery at a first capacity range, and wherein thebattery health monitor is configured to adjust the health score by asecond amount upon at least one of charging and discharging thesupplemental battery at a second capacity range.
 5. The charging deviceof claim 4, wherein the battery health monitor is configured to reducethe power capacity to which the supplemental battery is charged inresponse to a change in the health score.
 6. A charging device forcharging a mobile electronic device, the charging device comprising: asupplemental battery; an input interface configured to receiveelectrical power from an external power source; an output interfaceconfigured to output electrical power to a mobile electronic device; acontroller; a charging electrical pathway from the input interface tothe supplemental battery, wherein the controller is configured to directelectricity from the input interface, along the charging electricalpathway, to the supplemental battery to charge the supplemental battery;a discharge electrical pathway from the supplemental battery to theoutput interface, wherein the controller is configured to directelectricity from the supplemental battery, along the dischargeelectrical pathway, to the output interface to charge the mobileelectronic device; a bypass electrical pathway from the input interfaceto the output interface, wherein the controller is configured to directelectricity from the input interface, along the bypass electricalpathway, to the output interface to charge the mobile electronic device;and a computer-readable memory element; wherein the controller isconfigured to: store battery health information in the computer-readablememory element; disable or reduce electrical current along one or moreof the charging electrical pathway, the discharge electrical pathway,and the bypass electrical pathway based at least in part on the batteryhealth information.
 7. The charging device of claim 6, comprising aprotective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobileelectronic device.
 8. The charging device of claim 6, further comprisinga temperature sensor, wherein the battery health information includestemperature information received from the temperature sensor.
 9. Thecharging device of claim 6, wherein the battery health informationincludes charge cycle information.
 10. The charging device of claim 6,wherein the battery health information includes a health score, whereinthe controller is configured to adjust the health score by a firstamount upon at least one of charging and discharging the supplementalbattery at a first capacity range, and wherein the controller isconfigured to adjust the health score by a second amount upon at leastone of charging and discharging the supplemental battery at a secondcapacity range.
 11. The charging device of claim 6, wherein thecontroller is configured to reduce the power capacity to which thesupplemental battery is charged based in part on the battery healthinformation.
 12. The charging device of claim 6, wherein: upon detectionof a major risk event, the controller is configured to: disable thesupplemental battery from charging and discharging; and provide anotification to a user; and upon detection of a minor risk event, thecontroller is configured to: diagnose the health of the supplementalbattery to determine whether the supplemental battery is unrecoverable,partially recoverable, or fully recoverable; upon a determination thatthe supplemental battery is unrecoverable, the controller is configuredto: disable the supplemental battery from charging and discharging; andprovide a notification to a user; upon a determination that thesupplemental battery is partially recoverable, the controller isconfigured to resume charging and discharging of the supplementalbattery at a reduced performance level; and upon a determination thatthe supplemental battery is fully recoverable, the controller isconfigured to resume normal charging and discharging of the supplementalbattery.
 13. The charging device of claim 12, wherein a major risk eventcomprises a temperature measurement of less than about −10 degreesCelsius or greater than about 60 degrees Celsius, and wherein a minorrisk event comprises a temperature measurement between about −10 degreesCelsius and about 0 degrees Celsius or between about 45 degrees Celsiusand about 60 degrees Celsius.
 14. A charging device for charging amobile electronic device, the charging device comprising: a supplementalbattery; an input interface configured to receive electrical power froman external power source for charging the supplemental battery; anoutput interface configured to output electrical power to a mobileelectronic device; and a controller configured to receive battery healthinformation and to disable or limit charging or discharging of thesupplemental battery based at least in part on the battery healthinformation.
 15. The charging device of claim 14, comprising aprotective case configured to at least partially enclose the mobileelectronic device.
 16. The charging device of claim 14, furthercomprising a temperature sensor, wherein the battery health informationincludes temperature information received from the temperature sensor.17. The charging device of claim 14, wherein the battery healthinformation includes charge cycle information.
 18. The charging deviceof claim 14, wherein the battery health information includes a healthscore, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the health scoreby a first amount upon at least one of charging and discharging thesupplemental battery at a first capacity range, and wherein thecontroller is configured to adjust the health score by a second amountupon at least one of charging and discharging the supplemental batteryat a second capacity range.
 19. The charging device of claim 14, whereinthe controller is configured to reduce the power capacity to which thesupplemental battery is charged based at least in part on the batteryhealth information.
 20. The charging device of claim 14, wherein: upondetection of a major risk event, the controller is configured to:disable the supplemental battery from charging and discharging; andprovide a notification to a user; and upon detection of a minor riskevent, the controller is configured to: diagnose the health of thesupplemental battery to determine whether the supplemental battery isunrecoverable, partially recoverable, or fully recoverable; upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is unrecoverable, thecontroller is configured to: disable the supplemental battery fromcharging and discharging; and provide a notification to a user; upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is partially recoverable,the controller is configured to resume charging and discharging of thesupplemental battery at a reduced performance level; and upon adetermination that the supplemental battery is fully recoverable, thecontroller is configured to resume normal charging and discharging ofthe supplemental battery.